COMPETENCY-BASED PERSON-CENTERED DEMENTIA CARE TRAINING FOR DIRECT CARE WORKERS: ENGAGING EMPLOYERS

摘要

As the number of individuals living with dementia is increasing, there is a growing need for a highly competent workforce that can deliver comprehensive person-centered care across long-term care settings. While high quality educational resources are available, employers have difficulty prioritizing topics for training and selecting appropriate competency-based education. This presentation examines the development and implementation of a guide designed to help employers to choose the best training for direct care workers (DCWs) in the context of culture change, person-centered dementia care and competency-based approaches. Using a participant action research approach, the guide was developed with input from the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Workforce Development Committee, a group of engaged employers across long-term care settings, and focus groups with individuals living with dementia. The resulting guide facilitates high quality training for DCWs in all settings. Implications for statewide model development, DCW registries and career ladder development will be discussed.