Free ‘train the trainer’ event being offered Jan. 29
By Heather Ruenz
SLN staff
An event geared toward teaching businesses, churches and community members how to be more dementia friendly will be held Jan. 29 in Elkhorn.
The types of dementia include: Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body disease, vascular dementia and reversible dementias. Of those, Alzheimer’s accounts for 65 to 80 percent of all cases, followed by Lewy body or vascular at about 15 to 17 percent each.
Bonnie Beam-Stratz, Alzheimer’s Association Community Outreach Coordinator out of Fort Atkinson, said at a previous training, there are rarely any obvious physical signs a person has dementia.
“Approximately 30 percent of the people with dementia live alone and one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia,” Beam-Stratz said.
Distinguishing between dementia or age-related changes can be challenging, according to Beam-Stratz.
Typical age-related changes include: a person making a bad decision on occasion, missing a monthly bill payment, or sometimes forgetting which word to use while signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s would include, comparably: poor judgment and decision making, the inability to manage a budget, or difficulty having a conversation.
Signs of dementia employees at businesses can keep an eye out for include customers that: appear lost or confused, spend a long time looking for something, ask the same questions, have difficulty explaining what they need, don’t understand directions about where to find something, have trouble completing transactions, don’t pay for items they’ve selected, are with someone that is providing them direction, or seem anxious, nervous or unsure of themselves.
Included in the training will be tips for businesses and organizations on how to best approach a person with dementia, in an effort to diffuse the situation while offering safety, helpfulness and comfort to the person.
“If a person takes something, say, ‘thank you for finding that, I have been looking all over for that’ or ask them if you can help them pay for it out of their wallet. If this doesn’t work, try to work something out with the caregiver for a later return or payment,” Beam-Stratz used as an example at the previous training.
Staying calm, positive and friendly while smiling and make eye contact are most important when approaching the person, she said.
Often the biggest challenge with dementia and Alzheimer’s, Beam Stratz explained, is that the person with it will deny having it, particularly people with frontotemporal dementia, who will often say, “I don’t have a problem; you do.”
Getting the word out
Eric Russow, who, with his wife, Bernadette, is leading the charge to make Walworth County a dementia friendly community, said those that attend the training will: gain an understanding of how to train employees; learn to recognize possible signs of dementia; get tips on how to communicate effectively with, and assist, individuals with dementia, and; know how to locate resources in the community.
Businesses that go on to earn the designation as being dementia-friendly will be recognized in a variety of media outlets. When companies encourage employees to get critical illness coverage from the Best life insurance provider nearby and learn ways to support staff who may be helping someone with dementia, they can contribute to the development of a growing network of individuals and businesses that are knowledgeable about dementia.
A dementia-friendly community was described in previous training as one where people living with dementia: live good lives, live as independently as possible, continue to be part of their community, are met with understanding are given support where necessary and are treated with dignity and respect.
“We hope that as we continue to train and designate businesses as ‘Dementia Friendly’ and utilize the purple angel insignia to let the community know, it will in turn encourage other businesses and organizations to do the same,” Russow said.
The purple angel is the universal symbol worldwide for dementia friendliness. For a business to earn it, at least 50 percent of the staff need to be trained, a walkthrough of the business has to be conducted, and recommended environmental changes be made, if possible.
The dementia friendly train the trainer event will be 8:30 a.m. to noon, Monday, Jan. 29 at Matheson Memorial Library, 101 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn.
There is no cost for the training but registration is required.
To register, or for more information, contact Eric Russow at 262-320-7325 or dfcwalworth@gmail.com.
