Unlocking New Horizons in Dementia Care
Last month at the LeadingAge PA Annual Conference, President & CEO Garry Pezzano shared some staggering statistics from the Alzheimer's Association about the effects of the disease on family caregivers: "Alzheimer's takes a devastating toll on caregivers. Compared with caregivers of people without dementia, twice as many caregivers of those with dementia indicate substantial emotional, financial and physical difficulties."
The clear toll that Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia takes on family caregivers is heartbreaking. In senior living communities and through home and community-based services, professional caregivers strive to take much of that burden off of family members and offer a safe, fulfilling, community-based experience to those suffering from the disease. At the same time, those who work in memory care settings know how important it is to take time for oneself and be continuously equipped with the latest, most effective tools to care for this vulnerable population.
For this reason, LeadingAge PA identified dementia care education as a priority partnership opportunity in alignment with our 2023 strategic goals. Carrie Chiusano and the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network's Dementia Care Center of Excellence were a natural fit.
Over the last several months, Carrie Chiusano
and Marcy Keibler have begun to offer their enhanced knowledge and skills in dementia care in partnership with LeadingAge PA. Carrie has 30-plus years of long-term care experience with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, 15 of which were
spent helping to shape and implement the Woodside Place philosophy of specialty care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. In her current role as Executive Director, she is responsible for the
integration of dementia services across various settings. This includes spearheading dementia care program development in order to maintain state-of-the-art programming uniformly across campuses.
Carrie explains that her program will “explore common causes of responses that are often referred to as 'behaviors' such as aggression, repetition and sundowning and identify interventions that can help to prevent, reduce or eliminate them.” This knowledge will empower care providers to create a supportive environment and enhance the well-being of individuals with dementia.
“I recently had the opportunity to attend the Dementia Care Training and I would recommend the experience to all who work in senior living. Having worked with individuals with dementia, I learned new techniques to ensure a positive interaction
when working with individuals with dementia. Carrie and Marcy did an excellent job engaging the attendees!” -Megan StedjanWe all know that effective communication is key to fostering a positive caregiving environment. Participants will be provided with a deep dive into valuable communication techniques and alternative engagement interventions that are success-oriented and failure-free.
After a successful first session, we are excited to offer a second Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Seminar that will be held on June 20, 23023 at Rydal Park in Jenkintown, PA. This 8-hour intensive seminar is a must-attend event for those pursuing a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) designation with NCCDP. By participating in this seminar, you will gain valuable insights and skills to improve the quality of life for individuals living with dementia.
Join us as we unlock new horizons in dementia care and make a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia and create a more compassionate and supportive world for them. Click here to register and learn more.