Memory loss is one of the leading health concerns facing America today. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.7 million adults in the United States live with the disease, and it’s estimated this number will reach 14 million by 2050. Indeed, an American develops Alzheimer’s disease every 65 seconds. Though memory loss conditions extend beyond the disease itself, the rate of incidence points to the scope of the overall problem as the population ages.
The issue of memory loss is perhaps nowhere better understood and appreciated than in retirement and assisted living communities. Caring for residents who have experienced cognitive decline and those who exhibit onset symptoms is among the most crucial responsibilities that staff and communities undertake.
That’s why Edgewood Healthcare takes a comprehensive approach to educating employees on memory loss. Getting them as prepared and knowledgeable as possible translates into higher quality care and attention given to residents.
This commitment to providing the best service is a cornerstone of Edgewood Healthcare’s mission and why we recently overhauled our training program to create a more unified and immersive experience designed to benefit staff and residents.
Legacy Memory Care Program Standardizes Training
Instead of building a new training regimen from the ground up, Edgewood expanded existing lessons and standardized them across all locations. Once each unique community decides how to train staff, all employees everywhere can access the same robust training materials under the Legacy Memory Care program. Upgrading centralized and standardized resources replaced the rather fragmented nature of before.
Comprising eight sections, the Legacy Memory Care program includes classroom and experiential learning for employees on the many different levels and effects of memory loss, allowing them to understand the issue across the disease continuum. Those eight sections are:
- This is an introduction to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, which includes myth-busting and an introduction to core Edgewood values.
- Understanding brain changes in dementia reviews the stages of memory loss and its effect on physical and mental health.
- Respecting the person’s humanity trains employees on proper interactions and what not to do.
- Adapting our methods of communication, which teaches strategies for effectively and clearly engaging residents with memory loss.
- We should rethink our approach to daily life activities, which addresses the fact that each resident is his or her own self and needs enrichment and support specific to them.
- Understanding why challenging behaviors occur imparts effective problem-solving techniques for dealing with the side effects and risks of dementia.
- Helping staff understand and respond to families directs staff on how to familiarize themselves with memory loss and how to help families do the same.
- Caring for yourself so you can care for others reminds staff that their own mental well-being is important and provides some coping mechanisms.
Each module includes a discussion, PowerPoints, videos, reading material, and a final quiz to ensure learning objectives were met. In all, it represents a powerful foundation of training and education that’s been assembled to ensure consistency and competency across all Edgewood communities and employees.
So far, the Legacy Memory Care program has offered the positive effect imagined.
“The interactive training helps keep employees’ attention and gives them the opportunity to share or listen to personal and professional experiences,” said Hatti Olson, Executive Assistant and member of the task force originally assigned to assess memory loss training and revamp the structure. “It’s a really great and collaborative way to learn,” continued Olson.
Residents and Employees Benefit Alike
While employees undergo the training, they are not the only beneficiaries, as everything staff learn is then used to ensure better caregiving and resident engagement. The more that can be understood about memory loss, the more that can be done to address it, serve residents with a high quality of life, and ensure families have tools for understanding and making the most of the situation.
“If we’re not providing training, then we’re not doing the best we can to ensure residents get the best possible care,” says Ashley Magner, corporate life enrichment director.
In some cases, employees not familiar with memory loss or caring for residents experiencing such cognitive decline may need to fill in positions that put them in such settings. Without training, neither the employee nor the resident is in the best position to benefit. Other staff may transition between communities and not experience the same training expectations. These and other examples underscore the importance of ensuring all staff have a knowledge base to draw on.
“It’s important that our employees feel confident in their jobs and valued by us. They need to feel empowered enough to take on the daily challenges of dealing with dementia, and the Legacy Memory Care program helps accomplish that,” Magner says.
As the program is rolled out across the Edgewood universe (starting with new hires and ideally including all existing employees by the end of 2018), residents and staff will begin to see the impacts that robust training provides.
