CLEARFIELD – More than 70 professionals and caregivers from the area recently attended the Dementia Live training sponsored by the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. at the Knights of Columbus in Clearfield.
The training helped participants understand how people with dementia perceive the world. The Dementia Live experience immersed participants into what life might be like living with cognitive impairment and sensory change.
Specialized gear was used to simulate dementia specific changes that include altered eyesight, hearing and tactile sensation. This safe experience is a powerful and effective tool to strengthen care partner’s understanding of and empathy for their residents, organizers say.
The experience was followed by a subsequent “Empowerment Session” where a trained coach meets with them and helps the participants obtain valuable tools to improve communications and care processes to align with person centered care values.
Gaining a firsthand understanding of anxiety, isolation, frustration, confusion and more, Dementia Live uniquely walked participants to the “AHA” moment empowering caregivers with tools to improve communication, care processes and the environment.
After the training, participants expressed that “this was a great way to develop empathy” and “this experience made me more aware of what my mom is going through.”
The Dementia Live training, conducted by the Pennsylvania Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition, answers the need to equip care partners with effective, practical tools to help staff make immediate improvements in care skills.
It also decreases patient stress and anxiety and improves communication skills to empower caregivers to build trust with patients.
It encourages family to be an active member of the care team by enhancing the resident/family experience and facilitates staff satisfaction by reducing caregiver stress and building a stronger bond between caregiver and resident.
For more information about dementia or if you know someone who is in need of services, contact the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc. at 814-765-2696 or 1-800-225-8570.
Programs and services of the Agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Mature Resources Foundation and local and consumer contributions.