GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colorado—Homewatch CareGivers, an in-home care services provider, announced the launch of its certified dementia care specialist training program, which aims to emphasize the importance of cultural sensitivity, inclusivity and a person-centered approach to dementia care. Additionally, the program intends to provide caregivers with the essential tools and knowledge for individualized care.
"At Homewatch CareGivers, we are committed to continuously innovating and enhancing the care we provide to individuals with a wide range of needs, including those living with dementia,” said Todd Houghton, president of Homewatch CareGivers. “With experts like Nicole Brackett and Dr. Allen Power leading this initiative, we are proud to offer a training program that equips our caregivers with the right tools to provide the highest quality of care. Given that dementia affects a significant portion of the population, particularly those over 65, this training is essential to ensuring our caregivers can meet the evolving needs of those they care for."
The company said this new training program, is its commitment to improve the quality of care provided to individuals living with dementia. Additionally, the program seeks to move beyond the traditional clinical view of dementia and focus on empowering caregivers to support individuals' well-being and dignity. Attendees of the interactive online program will be able to complete skill building exercises to foster application and person-directed approach techniques.
“Our hope with this certification is that all who continue to work with Homewatch CareGivers will have a better understanding of dementia, a better understanding of the clients that they work with and know how to support and enrich the lives of those people who they interact with every day," said Allen Power, program content creator.
The training goals of the program include:
- Move beyond a biomedical view and address the stigmas associated with dementia.
- Understand sensory changes with aging and dementia and minimize safety concerns.
- Apply face-to-face communication skills to assist with daily living tasks and understand the causes of distress.
- Balance choices and risks to reach supportive, individualized decisions.
- Prioritize and support the well-being of individuals living with dementia.
As the program expands, the company said its franchisees plan to certify additional caregivers to continue to provide dementia-specific training throughout its nationwide network.