Living alone in old age is a common situation worldwide. In Europe and North America, about one-third of older adults (aged 60 and older) live alone, and the likelihood of living alone increases with age. Many older adults who live alone may have some form of cognitive impairment.
Cognitive impairment encompasses a range of conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, other types of dementia, brain injuries, and cognitive disorders that individuals may have dealt with since childhood. For those with cognitive impairments, living alone poses greater health risks and unmet needs compared to those who live with others. This highlights the importance of home care services for individuals with dementia. Offering quality care by trained Personal Care Workers (PCWs) is crucial to ensure that these individuals can maintain a safe and high-quality life. Home care agencies must ensure that all PCWs are properly trained and vetted.
Training for staff should cover several key topics, including the various types of dementia, how to approach clients experiencing a catastrophic event, strategies to prevent elopement, handling bathing issues, preventing falls, and more. Simply placing a caregiver in front of a video and calling it training is insufficient when they are tasked with providing quality care for seniors with cognitive challenges.
As the owner or manager of a home care agency, it is essential to offer quality live training for your staff on dementia and cognitive care. This training will help them understand the significance of caring for those who cannot care for themselves as they strive to age in place.
If you are a manager, owner, or administrator of a home care or home health care agency and need to enhance your understanding of caring for individuals with cognitive issues, consider training your staff. Join me on February 27th from 9 AM to 1 PM for a session focused on B.A.D. (Brain Injury, Autism, and Dementia). For more details, visit https://homehealthtrainer.com/home-health-and-home-care-administrator-courses/
Wishing you success,
Sharron
