West Virginia University Continuing & Professional Education is partnering with the West Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to offer the online Dementia Care Training Program beginning August 5. The program provides students with the basic skills to care for those with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s.
Dementia represents a set of symptoms – memory loss, behavior changes and personality changes – that are severe enough to interfere with normal daily activities. While dementia itself isn’t a disease, Alzheimer’s is a disease and is the most common form of dementia.
Participants in the program will acquire knowledge in communication, nutrition, safety, personal care and behaviors of those suffering from dementia. Both caregivers and those working with dementia patients in the healthcare field could find this program beneficial.
“As the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia continues to grow, so does the demand on the field of dementia care,” noted Laurel Kirksey, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, West Virginia Chapter. “It is critical that we are building dementia capable care systems, including individuals highly skilled in providing in-home and personal care for individuals with this devastating disease. We commend WVU Continuing Education for their foresight in partnering with us to make this curriculum available.”
Registration for the Dementia Care Training Program is now open and the cost of the program is $450.
WVU Continuing & Professional Education is a unit of WVU Academic Innovation, formerly Extended Learning. Continuing & Professional Education is geared toward adult learners eager to further their professional and personal skills. With more than 200 classes offered online and a handful offered in a classroom setting, there are courses for nearly everyone.
