Caring for Patients with Alzheimer's and Dementia - Online Inservice

Every 68 seconds another American develops Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias are common diagnoses in the long-term care setting. In this setting, certified nurse aides (CNAs) provide the majority of care for these residents. In fact, the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers found the average length of time nurse aides spent 2.47 hours with each resident. In addition to cognitive decline, residents with dementia often demonstrate changes in behavior, agitation, and aggression. For these reasons, education and training in dementia care for CNAs should be viewed as a priority.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

1. Define and recall symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
2. State difficult behaviors they may encounter when providing care for patients with dementia.
3. Identify techniques for handling difficult behaviors in a compassionate way.
4. List ways to help a resident perform tasks.
5. Utilize communication techniques to assist in patient care.

Curriculum

Chapter 1: Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

• Understanding Dementia
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• The Results of Dementia

Chapter 2: Caring for Dementia Patients

• Communication Tips
• Care Suggestions for Dementia Patients
• Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Behaviors

Chapter 3: Techniques for Dealing with Difficult Behaviors

• Common Triggers
• Aggression and Agitation
• Sundown Syndrome (Sundowning)
• Paranoia
• Hiding, Hoarding, and Rummaging
• Wandering
• Multi-Sensory Environments (MSEs)

Chapter 3: Case Studies

Chapter 4: References