A Virginia life plan community will use a local grant to train emergency responders and older adult service providers on dementia behavior de-escalation practices while also exposing its staff to what it’s like to live with dementia.
Kendal at Lexington, affiliated with the Kendal Corp., received the grant from the Rockbridge Community Health Foundation in collaboration with the Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital for its “Community Experts on Dementia and Aging” project. The foundation provides grants to local organizations to support health and wellness programs.
Lexington, VA, police, firefighters, emergency personnel and older adult service providers will receive Dementia Capable Care Training. Such instruction uses a cognitive disabilities model of therapy and a person-centered care model to provide caregivers with tools that help support individuals in various stages of dementia.
The program provides participants with an understanding of Alzheimer’s and related dementias, an understanding of the stages of dementia, approaches to maximize independence and quality of life, appropriate communication skills, and an understanding of the complexities of behavioral challenges and effective responses.
The goal, according to Kendal, is to shift the focus from the disease itself and a person’s lost abilities, to focusing on the individual’s uniqueness and their remaining abilities.
Kendal anticipates training 60 employees and 60 community professionals. Training will take place at fire stations, police stations and other settings.
The grant also will be used to set up virtual dementia tours for 150 staff members and potentially 120 community members. The program involves a simulation of the hardships individuals living with dementia experience when trying to accomplish daily tasks.
Kendal at Lexington CEO Jan Bigelow said that the exercise helps participants develop a deeper level of understanding of how to support individuals with dementia.
“This venture helps Kendal at Lexington accomplish our strategic goals of being an expert on aging and dementia, and expanding our relationship with the broader community,” Bigelow said.
