Free Alzheimer’s training now available to caregivers
The local Home Instead Senior Care office is offering a unique approach to help Fort Myers area families manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, diseases that eventually rob seniors of their memories and independence. Free training for families caring for these older adults is now available through online e-learning modules, available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.
The training program offers a personal approach to help families care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease at home, where 60 to 70 percent live, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Until there is a cure, we offer an interim solution,” said Sue Bidwell, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving the Fort Myers area.
The foundation of the Alzheimer’s CARE Training Program is an approach called “Capturing Life’s Journey” that involves gathering stories and experiences about the senior to help caregivers provide comfort while honoring the individual’s past. Because people with Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty with short-term memory, the Capturing Life’s Journey approach taps into long-term memory.
The Home Instead Senior Care network assembled the top experts in Alzheimer’s disease to develop the CARE approach.
The program for family caregivers consists of four classes: Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias Overview; Capturing Life’s Journey; Techniques to Manage Behaviors; and Activities to Encourage Engagement. Also available is a free guide for those who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Called Helping Families Cope, the guide includes advice to help families keep their loved ones engaged and manage behaviors.
For more information about free family caregiver training or to obtain a free copy of the Helping Families Cope booklet, contact the local Home Instead Senior Care office at 226-0007 or visit HelpforAlzheimersFamilies.com.