Focus on Dementia Care In-Service Training

This training is for facilities to administer during in-service training sessions. If you are looking for individual dementia care training to earn CEUs, click here.

Course Description

Unlock the Power of Compassionate Dementia Care with IHCA’s In-Service Training Series.

Are you ready to elevate your staff’s skills in providing exceptional care for individuals with dementia? Our comprehensive Dementia Care "In-Service" Training Series is designed to empower healthcare professionals, caregivers, and support staff!

This 10-part on-demand training series meets the State of Iowa’s criteria for mandatory training on Dementia Specific Programing for healthcare staff who work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health agencies.

All modules are available on-demand 24/7. Once registered, it is easy to access the training modules for your monthly in-service training or for the required dementia training for newly hired staff.

Each module comes with a “Certificate of Completion” and accompanying handout.

Topics

Navigating the Journey – Stages of Dementia – Speaker: Janel Meints

This session is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the stages of dementia. The aim is to enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals, caregivers, and anyone involved in the care and support of individuals affected by dementia. By delving into the progressive nature of dementia, participants will gain insights into the unique challenges posed by each stage, fostering a compassionate and informed approach to care.

I Want to Go Home – Communication Techniques in Dementia Care – Speaker: Rachelle Blough

This session will empower caregivers with essential skills and strategies for effective communication with individuals living with dementia. The training will enhance participants' understanding of the unique challenges posed by dementia and provide practical techniques to foster positive interactions, reduce distress, and improve the overall quality of care.

Meaningful Engagement and Dementia – Speaker: Cameo Rogers

This session will provide a comprehensive review of evidence-based practices for therapeutic engagement with individuals living with dementia. Participants will learn how to become more effective facilitators of engagement by utilizing remaining strengths and life story information from individuals living with dementia.

Behavioral Expressions in Dementia – Speaker: Cameo Rogers

This session will explore the impact of unmet needs on behavioral expressions in people living with dementia. Tools to help caregivers learn to anticipate needs and de-escalate frustration will be discussed.  There will also be a review of strategies for more effective interdisciplinary problem-solving for non-pharmacological interventions.

The Pitfalls of Dementia – Speaker: Cara Skrypchuk

Caring for someone with symptoms of dementia can be a very complex and emotional process. This session will educate participants on why someone's symptoms of dementia seem worse on one day versus another day. Learning the why helps us understand the person's experience and gives us a base on how to better support those living with dementia.

I’m Me, Not my Broken Management System – Speaker: Cara Skrypchuk

This enlightening session is told through the real-life experiences of residents with Executive Functioning loss.  Executive functions are crucial cognitive processes that enable individuals to manage time, organize tasks, set goals, and regulate emotions.  Participants will be provided guidance on how to address and mitigate challenges associated with Executive Functioning loss.

Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors – Speaker: Barbara Speedling

This session is designed to help caregivers better understand why the person they are trying to help may at times exhibit ‘challenging behaviors.’  Participants will learn to develop better communication skills by emphasizing the value of empathetic and supportive communication. The overall goal of the session is to reduce or minimize unproductive conversations and resistive behaviors by using effective verbal and physical skills.

Creating Meaningful Moments for Those with Dementia – Speaker: Rachelle Blough

Dementia presents unique challenges, but with the right knowledge and approach, it is possible to create meaningful and positive moments that contribute to a more fulfilling life.

This session will review the opportunities we have all day to go from a basic task to a meaningful interaction to foster a more compassionate and person-centered approach to care.

Medication Management and Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Dementia Care – Speaker: Barbara Speedling

This session will equip healthcare professionals, caregivers, and support staff with the knowledge necessary to provide effective medication management and provide non-pharmacological interventions for individuals living with dementia. Discussion will focus on preferred treatments, gradual dose reductions, and alternative intervention tactics.

Skills for Communicating with Families/Staff Support and Stress Relief – Speaker: Barbara Speedling

Caring for individuals with dementia involves not only addressing the needs of the patient but also providing support and guidance to their families.  Participants will learn how to effectively communicate with families of dementia patients to help foster a collaborative and compassionate approach to care. This session will also look at how caring for individuals with dementia is emotionally and physically demanding.  Participants will be provided with a review of techniques and tools to enhance their well-being, manage stress, and build resilience.

Registration Fees

Members:       $350 per facility
Non-Members:   $750 per facility

Once purchased, your facility can access the training modules as many times as needed.

Speaker Bios

Rachelle Blough, CTRS, CADDCT, CDP is Vice president of Corporate Training with the National Council for Certified Dementia Practitioners. Rachelle has been involved in senior living for over 25 years. She has worked in adult day, skilled nursing, memory care, assisted living and independent living in various roles in operations. She has held regional, corporate, and national positions in positions that oversee activities and dementia care for senior living companies around north America.

Janel Meints, CTRS, DCP, DCCP, Director of Luminations at Grand Living at Bridgewater, North Liberty, Iowa.  Janel is an experienced Recreation Therapy Director with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry. She is skilled in Dementia care training, virtual Dementia tour training, assisted-animal therapy/interventions/activities, therapeutic recreation, and healthcare program development.

Cameo Rogers, CTRS, CDP, CDCM, CADDCT is a recreational therapist and dementia educator. She serves as the Corporate Life Enrichment Manager for Immanuel in Omaha, Nebraska. Cameo is a sought-after speaker and presents at the state and national level regarding implementation of communication and engagement strategies to support individuals living with dementia. She was recognized as the 2017 National Certified Dementia Practitioner of the Year.

Cara Skrypchuk, BS, CDP, RD, CPIT, ACC, CMDCP has focused her career on promoting brain health and how to utilize retained cognitive abilities and strengths.  Currently, Cara is the Director of Memory Support services at Erickson Living and oversees the management and performance of the Continuing Care Memory Care neighborhoods as well as directs/supports the Memory Fitness and Memory Health community programs within the Independent Living community.   Cara has provided memory care services in the areas of adult day health, acute care, long term care, and assisted living care for over 30 years.

Barbara Speedling is the Quality-of-Life Specialist for Innovations for Quality Living. Barbara provides staff education and program development designed to satisfy a broad range of special needs.  Guidance is offered to community, residential and long-term care service providers in the development of programs and services to improve the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, mental illness, brain injury and complex psychosocial needs.  Barbara began her career in long-term care in recreation therapy, later specializing in the development of environments and programs for people with dementia and mental illness.