It’s helpful to know if the home care provider you’ve selected offers specialized training for their staff in Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

New England Home Health Care (NEHHC) recently sponsored a course for specialized Dementia/Alzheimers training for their home care staff.  NEHHC is a locally owned and operated company which has been committed to providing quality home health care and staffing services in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Hancock Counties since 1986. According to President/CEO, Kathy Frodahl RN, “We recognize the increase of Alzheimers and Dementia within our communities and the specialized training needed to care for those affected by these diagnoses.” While NEHHC regularly offers training and continuing education programs for its staff of RNs, LPNs, CNAs and PCA/PSSs, Frodahl notes that “this type of training is not part of the routine curriculum offered to healthcare providers and caregivers can easily become frustrated and ineffective when dealing with clients who have Dementia. NEHHC staff is passionate about providing care that is unique to the client.”

NEHHC has teamed up with Dementia Care Strategies to provide this unique and specialized training so that they may better serve clients with Alzheimers and related Dementias. Kathryn Pears, founder of Dementia Care Strategies has been working with Alzheimers/Dementia patients for over 30 years. Pears notes that “the ability to provide compassionate care depends on understanding the disease and developing strategies that will increase your ability to communicate with a person living with dementia and accommodate the challenging behaviors that frequently arise as a result of the disease.”

This training will give NEHHC clients and their families the confidence that services will be delivered by caregivers who, in addition to their other training, are certified in Alzheimers/Dementia care. Frodahl says, “Whether you need assistance for just one day or for an indefinite period of time, New England Home Health Care provides care for clients in the best place on earth: their home.”