A Train-the-Trainer manual on dementia education for direct care workers is now available from the Michigan Department of Community Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Administration. The manual, Developing Meaningful Connections with People with Dementia: A Training Manual, will provide staff trainers throughout long term care with step-by-step instructions and materials that will assist them in educating direct care workers on dementia and ways to enhance care to those suffering from dementia.

The packet includes a manual with content and instructions for presentations, classroom exercises, case studies and discussions, a CD with handouts and PowerPoint slides, and a DVD video of vignettes that are referred to within the manual. In addition, effective and interactive training strategies are included. The manual is aligned with the Dementia Competencies Guide of the Michigan Dementia Coalition.

In Michigan, more than 120,000 workers care for someone with dementia, most often brought on by Alzheimer's disease, and often in addition to other disabling ailments. With increasing numbers of elderly that have some form of dementia, care workers in nursing homes, assisted living and adult foster care homes, adult day care facilities, homes for the aged, and home and community-based services agencies need additional knowledge and skills. The instruction will help provide direct care workers with the tools and strategies to confidently address behavioral disturbances in a variety of settings and to improve quality of care.

Federal Community Mental Health Block Grant funded the update and production of the manual. The materials may be copied for widespread use.

The Training manual is available at no charge from the MDCH Mental Health & Substance Abuse website at www.michigan.gov/dementia.  The entire manual, as well as the accompanying CD and DVD (with limited numbers), is available by contacting Marci Cameron at cameronm@michigan.gov.