Dementia education for healthcare providers in Perth County

If you're a healthcare provider, the Alzheimer Society of Perth County can connect you to an educational opportunity near you. In addition, learn more about the variety of Ontario-based resources available to you across the province.

Young healthcare provider helping senior woman.

For more information about education opportunities for healthcare providers or to register for an upcoming workshop, please contact the First Link® / Public Education Coordinator:

Phone: 519-271-1910 ext. 21

Toll-free: 1-888-797-1882

Email: cbannerman@alzheimerperthcounty.com

In-services and staff presentations

The Alzheimer Society of Perth County offers educational in-services and presentations to staff in primary care, hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and community agencies.

Sessions are custom designed with the goal of increasing knowledge and understanding of the various issues related to supporting a person with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Overview of dementia,
  • Understanding Alzheimer's disease,
  • Understanding the connection between the brain and behaviour,
  • Enhancing communication with the person with dementia,
  • Understanding and addressing responsive behaviours,
  • Research updates,
  • Heads Up for Healthier Brains,
  • Advance care planning and
  • Family education and awareness: Visiting, transition, loss.

 

Gentle Persuasive Approach® (GPA)

This workshop is for staff of long-term care and retirement homes.

Gentle Persuasive Approach® (GPA) provides staff with the skills and confidence to respond respectfully to responsive behaviours of a more escalated nature associated with dementia.

GPA® is a seven-hour workshop that is case-based, interactive and practical. It re-frames challenging behavior to be interpreted as self-protective or responsive behavior that occurs as a result of an unmet need. Experienced, certified trainers of the Alzheimer Society of Perth County staff offer this workshop on request. GPA® focuses on:

  • Respecting the person with dementia as an individual,
  • Understanding the disease process and
  • Utilizing supportive care strategies that are compassionate, effective and self-protective.

There is a cost for this workshop.

Visit the GPA® website

U-First!™

This workshop is for people working directly with people living with dementia, including personal support workers (PSWs), volunteers and family members.

U-First!™ is an seven-hour workshop intended to support the health care providers who provide care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It builds on existing curriculum and encourages learners to embrace lifelong learning in this field.

The overall vision is to provide every member of the care team with consistent education on the core competencies and best practices relating to their role in providing care and services to a person living with dementia.

This training also sets the stage for a common knowledge base, set of values, language for communicating across the system, and a common, comprehensive approach to care.

There is a cost for this workshop.

Learn more about U-First!

Case-based education

Case-based education can help staff of long-term care homes, retirement homes, community agencies and in-patient units.

Through case-based education, Alzheimer Society staff work with you to determine the reason for a person living with dementia’s responsive behavior.

Case-based education also looks for ways to minimize responsive behaviours so that the person living with dementia can lead a high quality of life in all stages of their disease.