In the field of memory care, family involvement and engagement are two top influences and factors that dictate a resident’s quality of life—making their support especially paramount. However, meeting the family where they are in their emotional process of coping with a loved one’s dementia diagnosis, and educating families can prove more difficult than expected. Behavioral and supportive interventions are not simply practiced with residents, but are critical when tending to the needs of families and their educational process.

In this dynamic session, join top educator and dementia care trainer, Denise Scruggs, as she details recommended content and best practices for educating families to improve the quality of their visits, cope with the emotions and stess of caregiving help them connect more with their loved one regardless of their cognitive decline Poiley will also discuss issues concerning the transition to a facility and the relationship between the caregivers, the staff and the facility.

Learning Objectives:

•  Specify ten areas of concern for caregivers with a family member in a long term care facility and strategies for facilties to anticipate, prevent, and achieve success

• Define a process for family education and intervention planning, with a focus on meeting the needs of the resident, the family and the facility’s approach for person-centered care

• Discuss methods for accessing family concerns and need and for implementing interventions and support programs for family caregiver

• Outline process improvement methods to continuously create a positive and supportive environment for families and their loved ones