Dementia Care Training for Long-term Care Staff If You Provide It, Will They Come?

摘要

The number of older adults with dementia who reside in long-term care (LTC) settings is large and increasing, meaning that the need for a well-trained workforce will become increasingly important. This article examines the percentage of LTC staff in 16 facilities who attended the 6-session Foundations of Dementia Care training program and the characteristics related to higher attendance. Overall, 62% of staff attended at least 1 training session, and they attended 42% of all training sessions. There was no difference in attendance by setting (nursing home or residential care/assisted living) or staff type (supervisor or direct care staff). However, the odds of attending the training increased with staff age, and the odds were higher for staff reporting more effective leadership and who worked in facilities that were more tolerant of residents who displayed behavioral symptoms. These findings suggest strategies to increase attendance in staff training programs in LTC settings.