Alzheimer’s disease and related Dementia’s; stages, early signs, treatments, physical changes
Psychoactive medications in dementia and cognitively impaired adults
Developing a therapeutic environment for the cognitively impaired client
Support and resources for family and caregivers
Role of the HHA Dementia Specialist with family caregivers and the health care team
On-the-job training
Role of the HHA in caring for cognitively impaired clients
Use care plan for interventions and report successful interventions to supervisor and family
Monitor and document episodes of targeted behaviors and/or new behaviors
Recognize signs of stress and strategies for coping within self other caregivers and family members
Demonstrate effective communication & interaction with cognitively impaired and their families
Demonstrate redirecting a client
Demonstrate use of validation therapy
Verbalize and demonstrate various approaches for a client who is resisting personal care that will maintain dignity and respect
Demonstrate appropriate interventions for client who is yelling or screaming
Demonstrate therapeutic communication with significant others
Demonstrate coaching techniques to help other caregivers and family members cope with the Dementia process
Provide assistance with independence, mobility, and therapeutic activities
Demonstrate use of therapeutic activities/exercises to maintain joint function for the cognitively impaired client
Implement care strategies that encourage independence in activities of daily living without increasing client anxiety, respect the clients dignity and desire for control
Implement therapeutic activities appropriate for early, middle, and late states of Dementia
Demonstrate use of therapeutic activities to de-escalate a client who is anxious
Uses nutritional interventions to enhance nutritional well being
Demonstrate adapting meal preparation to maximize nutritional intake (i.e., offering small servings, finger foods, introducing foods one at a time, frequency meals, snacks, and fluids that are acceptable to cognitively impaired clients)
Explain modifications needed to maintain nutritional status
Psychoactive medications and side effects
Describe basic features of psychoactive medications and their side effects
Demonstrate ability to observe, record and report side effects
Maintain a safe environment for cognitively impaired
Maintain a safe environment for wandering clients
Maintain safety from potential toxic substances that the confused client may attempt to ingest
Is able to implement interventions to minimize environmental stimuli that may increase a confused client’s agitation, (i.e., noise levels, large groups, television, and radio)