Dementia education for healthcare providers in Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma District

Education and awareness

In addition to the First Link^® Learning Series for people with dementia and their care partners, we provide customized education programs to a wide variety of target groups. Training sessions, workshops, and public presentations are available on many dementia-related topics. Examples of various workshops/presentations and their target audiences include:

• Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) in Dementia Care – a one-day workshop for health care workers in a variety of care settings
• U-First! – a one-day workshop for front-line health care workers in a variety of care settings
  

For more information on our Education and Awareness program, or to request a presentation, please contact us at one of our offices located on the Contact Us page.

Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) in Dementia Care

Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE) Inc. is a national non-funded not-for-profit social enterprise committed to enhancing the care of older adults through dementia education products and services, with profits reinvested to further advance our social mission.

What makes AGE unique is their multidisciplinary cross-sector program approach. AGE trains all staff members across healthcare organizations — registered staff, personal support workers, housekeeping, volunteers, etc. Everyone who works with older adults is a candidate.

After completing our Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA®) to Dementia Care curriculum, staff understand that a person with dementia is a unique human being, capable of interacting with the world. AGE explains the relationship between the disease process and behavioural responses. Participants learn to apply emotional, environmental and interpersonal communication strategies that are immediately useful.

U-First!

U-First! is a training program that helps frontline staff to develop a common knowledge base, language, values and approach to caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by:

• Understanding the person living with dementia and associated behaviour changes and
• Working as a team to develop individualized support strategies.

If you are caring for someone with dementia, the U-First! The program will help you:

• Understand that there can be many reasons why you might see behaviour changes when a person is living with dementia
• Flag the possible changes that you may see when you are supporting a person is living with dementia
• Interact in a new way with both skill and a common understanding of dementia
• Reflect and report on not only new behaviours you may see in the person you are supporting but also share your strategies, your tips on working with a person who is living with dementia
• Support the person with dementia, their family and friends in everyday activities
• Know that you are part of an important team in caring for the person with dementia.