Alzheimer’s Foundation stresses relationship building in new training video

As dementia care moves further away from a "one size fits all" approach, it's imperative that care providers know and understand how to develop relationships with each resident to provide person-centered care. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) has released a new training video that highlights the importance of building those relationships.

The six-hour video course, available through AFA's Dementia Care Professionals of America (DCPA) division, features a variety of healthcare professionals including Mark Lachs, MD, professor of medicine and co-chief of the division of geriatrics and gerontology at Weill Cornell Medical College; and Richard Powers, MD, geriatric psychologist and neuropathologist. 

After completing the training, participants can take an exam to demonstrate their proficiency and become an AFA-Certified Dementia Care partner—a certificate that is renewable each year.

"As the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease continues to rise, it is critically important that today’s healthcare and emergency services professionals are cognizant of the specific skills and considerations involved in caring for individuals with dementia," Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and CEO, said in a press release. "Our new training program is geared toward helping professionals improve quality of life individuals with dementia and their families."

To learn more about the training program, click here.

Megan Combs

Megan Combs was Associate Editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long Term Living from 2013-2018.