As assisted living communities have become more popular, they have become the largest residential provider of long term care for people with dementia. Often, these residents need special help with daily tasks, including bathing, dressing, and eating. Training can help staff problem-solve the challenging situations that arise when caring for persons with dementia.
There are two online programs developed by the Alzheimer’s Association that offer education and aim to better inform staff how to provide care. They are being offered at no cost to selected assisted living communities.
A research study funded by the National Institute on Aging is evaluating the two programs. Led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, the study will work with 126 assisted living communities to evaluate the essentiALZ and Project ECHO training. It will determine whether these trainings help staff feel better trained and result in better outcomes for both residents and staff.