Pictured is the Manager of Alinea’s Koh-I-Noor aged care facility, Jennie Neilsen, teaching on ‘Positive Communication with People Living with Dementia’ with aged care staff.
The course revolves around better understanding the needs of people living with dementia and techniques that can be used to minimise challenging situations (which can come up regularly as part of any day in residential aged care). It also provides staff with the skills to help de-escalate situations which put residents, themselves, and others potentially at risk.
All aged care staff (including laundry and gardening workers) receive this training every couple of years as part of Alinea’s commitment to ensure staff receive education and training relevant to their roles.
Jennie says she teaches the course because she’s “passionate about supporting people living with dementia to live their best life, but, in essence, using a quote from Teepa Snow (who is a US based Dementia Trainer), ‘Dementia doesn’t rob someone of their dignity; it is our reaction to them that does.’ This is what is at the base of my drive to share the knowledge I have and if I can make one staff member advocate for a person’s dignity then my job is done.”
