Now, more than ever, home care agencies are looking for the best ways to provide quality care in an at-home setting. Of course, this not only starts with hiring skilled and compassionate caregivers, but also investing in their education and advancement.
Dementia Live Coaches
This year, we have several educational initiatives in the works, starting with certifying 4 members of our team as Dementia Live Coaches. Dementia Live is an in-depth course that helps attendees empathize with the frustration and confusion that come with memory-related diseases. Participants wear headphones with distracting noises, sunglasses that restrict peripheral vision, and gloves that limit fine motor skills. They are then asked to complete several tasks such as buttoning shirts, counting coins, or taking medication.
Not one of us could complete all the required daily tasks! After the experience, the coach guides a reflection on the experience. While those are a brief 7 minutes, the immersive experience leaves an indelible mark on participants. We want our caregivers to walk away from the class deepening empathy, patience, and understanding when working with memory related diseases. Additionally, they will have a chance to share and support colleagues with challenges that may arise while working in the field.
A big thank you to Julie Boggess from AGE-u-cate Training Institute for being our fearless leader, and bringing Dementia Live to our team.
