Stay Ahead Training Program

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Potomac Homes has a specialized, five-step training program designed to orient staff to the strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The dementia resident is not a typical assisted living resident. Specialized communication strategies, validation therapy, redirection and behavior management are needed to insure a high quality of life can be experienced without the use of dangerous behavior modification drugs. Specialized staff training provided by a neuropsychologist and our clinical director equips employees to recognize and diffuse difficult situations as they arise before they can build. Staff training is designed to help employees deal with the specialized needs of the dementia resident and Stay Ahead of potential troublesome issues, characteristic in the disease process.

Additional specific training provided to staff that is unique to Potomac Homes includes medication management, behavioral challenges, validation therapy, reminiscence, creative art, sanitation, safety, and emergency preparedness. Sensitivity training is also provided to equip the employees to understand the complexities of aging and the disease progression. Employees are taught to recognize subtle changes in residents' condition. Employee longevity enables the staff to gain an intimate knowledge of their residents' personal habits and characteristics, much the same as a mother would recognize a subtle change in their child. This enables them to spot problems quickly as they arise. Many health or behavioral problems, when detected early can be managed by their physician enabling them to continue to function independently, and live in more comfort with a quality of life.

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