Define dementia. Identify common symptoms of dementia. Describe stages of Alzheimer’s disease and the symptoms experienced at each stage. Recognize dementia-related behaviors. Understand the importance of the care plan for older adults living with dementia. Recognize the impacts of dementia on the client’s family. Determine how to care for an older adult in the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Recognize types of non-medicinal therapies for dementia. Suggest environmental changes to support a client living with dementia.

This class was created for professional caregivers to understand dementia and apply recommended care strategies for supporting a client living with dementia in the client's own home. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia impact many aspects of care. The caregiver’s ability to modify care, recognize and work through challenges, and support themself and the family are all vital in providing care to those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Define early stage dementia and identify positive communication strategies for older adults in this stage Describe middle stage dementia and identify positive communication strategies for older adults in this stage Describe late stage dementia and identify positive communication strategies for older adults in this stage Determine methods of communicating with clients living with dementia who exhibit dementia-related behaviors.

This class will teach caregivers about the different stages of dementia and discuss ways to communicate with the older adult living with dementia through each stage. The goal of this class is to give caregivers more tools and confidence around effective styles of communication with older adults with memory problems.

Recognize causes of agitation or aggressive behavior in older adults with dementia. Identify the aggressive behaviors associated with dementia in older adults. Determine strategies for preventing agitation and aggressive behaviors in older adults with dementia. Describe tactics for managing agitated and aggressive behaviors of an older adult with dementia.

This class will help caregivers recognize agitation and aggressive behaviors in older adults living with dementia, and will provide strategies for preventing and addressing agitation and aggression. 

Identify safety risks for older adults living with dementia. Implement accident prevention strategies in the home of an older adult living with dementia. Determine tactics for ensuring the safety of the older adult living with dementia outside the home. Consider the importance of balancing independence and safety for older adults living with dementia.

This class will teach caregivers the importance of safety for clients living with dementia. It will also show caregivers strategies for protecting the client inside and outside the home while maintaining the client’s independence.

Describe the basic structure, function, and physical changes that affect the brain and nervous system. Identify diseases that cause dementia, common symptoms, and the impact on care practices.

This class will teach caregivers about the changes that affect the brain and nervous system with age. Caregivers will also learn about common diseases that cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and mixed dementia.

Recognize the relationship between Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Identify the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia. Describe tactics for supporting the care of an older adult living with Parkinson’s disease dementia.

This class will teach caregivers how to identify the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease dementia, and how to care for an older adult living with Parkinson’s disease dementia.      

Describe the benefits of providing person-centered care for older adults living with dementia. Explain how to incorporate person-centered care approaches into the care of older adults living with dementia, to respect background, culture, experiences, and attitude.

This class demonstrates how to practice person-centered care when assisting clients with dementia. Caregivers will learn how to promote dignity, independence, individuality, and choice, for their clients.

Define client’s rights and the importance of confidentiality, privacy, and security of protected health information. Recognize principles of self-determination and how older adults living with dementia can make informed decisions about advance directives. Demonstrate the ability to identify, prevent, and report situations of abuse, exploitation, and neglect towards older adults living with dementia.

In this class, caregivers will learn how to identify, prevent, and report situations of abuse, exploitation, and neglect. The class will also cover practices for ensuring the client’s rights and self-determination, and how to protect confidential health information.

Apply person-centered care and best practices in assisting older adults living with dementia with ADLs. Describe strategies for addressing ADLs throughout the progression of dementia. Identify situations that may trigger dementia-related behaviors.

In this class, caregivers will learn the importance of person-centered care when assisting older adults living with dementia with activities of daily living (ADLs). Caregivers will apply strategies for supporting clients throughout the progression of dementia and will identify best practices for fostering the client’s dignity, independence, and choice. 

Apply person-centered strategies for assisting older adults living with dementia with bathing. Describe tactics for adapting the client’s bathing environment. Recognize best practices for ensuring the client’s dignity, independence, and choice before, during, and after bathing.

This class covers how to apply person-centered care when assisting clients living with dementia with bathing. Caregivers will learn how to adapt the client’s home environment for bathing, ensure the client’s dignity and independence, and techniques for assisting the client during the bathing process.

Apply person-centered care strategies for assisting older adults living with dementia with grooming, including haircare, shaving, skin and nail care. Recognize best practices for supporting the client’s dignity, independence, and choice during the grooming process.

This class covers how to assist clients living with dementia with grooming, including haircare, shaving, skin and nail care. Caregivers will learn how to support the client during the process of grooming to ensure the client’s dignity, independence, and choice.

Apply person-centered care strategies for assisting older adults living with dementia with dressing. Describe tactics for adapting the client’s home environment for dressing. Recognize best practices for maintaining the client’s dignity, independence, and choice while dressing.

This class covers how to apply person-centered care when assisting clients living with dementia with dressing. Caregivers will learn how to adapt the client’s home environment for dressing, and how to ensure the client’s dignity, independence and choice during the dressing process.

Apply person-centered care strategies for assisting older adults living with dementia with oral hygiene. Recognize best practices for maintaining the client’s dignity, independence, and choice while providing assistance with oral hygiene. Suggest adaptations and equipment for clients who need additional support during oral hygiene care.

This class covers how to apply person-centered care when assisting clients living with dementia with oral hygiene. Caregivers will learn how to support the client’s dignity, independence, and choice during the process of providing oral hygiene. Health considerations and adaptive equipment for oral hygiene are also covered.

Apply person-centered strategies for assisting older adults living with dementia with toileting. Describe tactics for adapting the client’s home environment to support toileting. Recognize best practices for ensuring the client’s dignity, independence, and choice before, during, and after toileting.

This class covers how to apply person-centered care when assisting clients living with dementia with toileting. Caregivers will learn how to adapt the client’s home environment, and how to support the client’s dignity, independence, and choice during the toileting process. Health considerations and adaptive equipment for toileting are also covered.

Apply person-centered strategies for assisting older adults living with dementia with eating. Describe tactics for adapting the client’s home environment to support eating. Recognize best practices for ensuring the client’s dignity, independence, and choice during the dining process.

This class covers how to apply person-centered care when assisting clients living with dementia with eating. Caregivers will learn how to support the client’s dignity, independence, and choice during the dining process. Health considerations, adaptive equipment, and hand over hand assistance for eating are also covered.

Explain why older adults living with dementia are at greater risk for falls. Describe tactics for preventing falls.

In this class, caregivers will learn the mobility challenges faced by persons living with dementia, how to adapt the client’s home environment to prevent falls, and what steps to take if a client falls.