2020 Dementia Care Certificate Program: Module #1 - Overview and Early Dementia

Purpose

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, accounts for an estimated 60-80% of cases. Early stage dementia is the most common type found across the spectrum of aging services settings – from adult day services to home-and community-based to assisted living to care centers. This overview session will focus on understanding the more common types of dementia and their early stage forms and how adopting best practices in dementia care can result in delivering the highest quality care and services while complying with regulations.

Learning Objectives

• Refresh your knowledge about the regulatory rules that require dementia training - including audience and topic. • Articulate how brain function works and how dementia interferes with it. • Review the common types of dementia – their causes, symptoms and stages so you can understand the range of care and services you may be expected to provide. • List three warning signs that may indicate that dementia is present and require an intervention. • Describe why symptoms are often a form of expression or communication by the person with dementia

Presenters

Michelle R. Klegon, Attorney, Klegon Law Office, Ltd., Minneapolis; and Jodi L. Melius, RN, Program Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester