1. Preparing Staff and Volunteers for
Working with the Dementia
Population
Stephen Vozzella BA ACC
Emeritus Pikesville
Memory Care Director

2. Slides are available at
• http://www.slideshare.net/StephenVozzellaSlides

3. Question
• Is there anything specific you want to go back
to work with from this session?

4. Description of presentation:
• This session will provide the participants with
tools to use when educating staff and
volunteers on the topic of working with
dementia. The presenter will examine the
type of learners you are working with, review
different ways to present materials and then
walk the participants through some examples
of training programs.

5. Objectives
• 1. Describe the types of learners that you will
be teaching.
• 2. Identify in-service techniques that are
successful.
• 3. Implement a basic training program for
volunteers that will prepare them for the
dementia population.

6. 3 Styles Of An Adult Learner
• Visual - Learning by seeing
• Auditory – Learning by listening
• Kinesthetic – Learning by doing
• Goal for the presenter is to include all 3 styles
in presentation
• http://www.ldpride.net/learning-style-test.html
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7. What do you want your staff to
know?
• Look at job description
• Are there parts of the job description are they not
meeting?
• What could they improve upon?
• Practice difficult situations
• What are the staff persons goals for the coming
review period?
• What does the employee want to learn?
• What are the goals of the department?

8. Job Description/Possible Topics
• Assessments
• Planning - entertainers
• Leading programs – group vs. individual
• Documenting – activities, MDS, evaluations – what
else
• Communication
• Supplies
• Budget
• Supervising
• What else????

9. Leading Programs
• This is an area we should all be looking at this
is our “bread and butter”
• Create checklist of goals for leaders
• Use this to review
• Use this to build abilities
• Use this to interview

10. Training Plan - Department
• Look at the staff and what areas you have identified
• Create a plan for each employee
• Look at the Pillars of your program
• Survey your department what do they want to learn
about
• Communicate plan with supervisor and HR – utilize
company training programs
• Create a monthly training plan
• Leave room for impromptu training

11. Maximize Learning Opportunities
• Learning Objectives
• Descriptions of training
• Keep it short, make it fun! – create on the
spot training – can help with issues!
• Pre and Post Tests
• Why is it important you have this training?
• Stimulate the adult learner
• Allow for evaluations
• Attempt to have different presenters

12. Switch gears discuss leading a class

13. It Is Your Turn To Present …..
• Learning objectives – learning objectives
should guide the process
– Define, list, describe, implement
• Then come up with a title
• Beginning and an ending
• Know the topic
– Do not expect to be able to “snow” the
participants – guest speaker??
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14. Have Ground Rules
• Set the tone
• Bathrooms and breaks
• Questions and answers
• When to speak when not to speak
• Anything else???
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15. The Day Of The Presentation
• Get there early and stay late!!
• Be accessible
• Watch what you drink
• The night before avoid a meal that maybe
cause you to have an upset stomach
• If your presentation is right after a meal bring
mints
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16. Review The Agenda
• Pay close attention to time
• Stick to your plan
• Include handouts – Do you need every slide
on the handout?
• Adult learners need to know what the plan is
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17. Be Ready To Introduce Yourself
• Keep it simple but highlight your best qualities
• Highlight your professional achievements
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18. Ice Breaker
• How to break the ice?
• Trainers Warehouse – resource for ideas
• Try your creativity – that is an activity
specialists strength
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19. Tools
• Laser pointer
• Toys
• Flip chart
• Any others???
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20. PowerPoint Tips
• Take a class
• Use the notes feature if you need a script
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21. Do Not Go Crazy With
• Color – use color that is easy to read
• Make your backgrounds and font able to read
• Try to stay above size 24 font
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22. Do Not Over Load Your Slide With
• Lots of information
• Make sure you cover each bullet point on your
slide
• Participants do not like it when you skip over a
point
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23. Learn Where The B Button Is
• Press the b or w button is
• Everyone will focus on you
• Make your point
• Take a class on PowerPoint!
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24. Don’t Overuse PowerPoint
• Keep the clicking to a minimum
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25. Use Photos Or Videos Instead
• Of clip art
• Make sure cartoon is not going to offend
anyone
• If you can use company logo or copyright
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26. The Participants
• Stand in front of the sleeper
• Do not let a participant dominate the room
• Lets discuss this at the break
• This is a topic for another class
• Can you give me your e-mail address and I will get
back to you.
• Be a good listener
• Observe the body language of the participants
• Never give presentation near ocean!
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27. Teaching Techniques
• Lecture
• Experiential exercise
• Panel presentation
• Question and answers
• Case study
• Pre test, post test
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28. Reward Participation
• Candy
• Prizes
• Use your creativity
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29. Practice, Practice, Practice
• If you can find someone to listen or read your
presentation, absolutely do this
• Check for spelling, grammar, consistency of
font
• Practice your presentation out loud
• Use a clock
• Avoid um, uh……
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30. Secret Of The Presentation
• If you forget to talk to talk about a certain
point don’t worry about it no one will know
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31. Presentation Tip
• Do not make the presentation all about you!!
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32. During Questions
• Repeat the question
• If it is a long question take notes, break it into
sections
• Summarize the questions
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33. Resources
• www.trainerswarehouse.com - Trainers Warehouse
• www.slideshare.net – free slide sharing site
• www.ldpride.net – 2 minute learner test
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34. At The End
• Make sure you thank the participants for their
time
• Give time for questions
• Pay close attention to time, do not keep
people over – participants stop paying
attention – do not speak near ocean – no one
will pay attention
• Leave time for evaluation
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35. Lets switch gears one last time!

36. Volunteers
• Different based on junior/senior
• Keep it simple

37. Volunteer Orientation
• Walking orientation keep it moving
• Required information- fire safety, infection
control, etc..
• The basics of dementia
• Focus on the positive – show volunteers what
residents can do!
• Create special training depending on what
their job is going to be

38. Is Dementia a Disease?
• Dementia is a syndrome which is a set of
symptoms

39. What is the most common form of
dementia?
• Alzheimer’s
• Vascular Dementia
• Parkinson's Disease
• Dementia with Lewy Bodys
• Front Temporal Dementia
• NPH
• Pick’s Disease

40. Alzheimer’s Disease

41. Demonstrate the breakdown
• Need some volunteers
• You do not need to speak
• You will be passing a ball to one another

42. Vascular Dementia

43. The 4 A’s
• Amnesia
• Aphasia
• Apraxia
• Agnosia

44. Amnesia
• Memory loss
• Short Term Memory Loss
• Long Term Memory Loss
• Residents may benefit from 20’s, 30’s, 40’s,
50’s - long term memory
• Fortunately you can re use material

45. Aphasia
• Receptive = has difficulty receiving messages
• Expressive = has difficulty sending the
message
• Utilize short and simple statements
• Utilize non-verbal communication
• Prepare to repeat

46. Apraxia
• It is the inability to carry out purposeful
movements
• For severely impaired we must try
interventions even though response may be
limited
• Utilize visual objects
• Extra Patience needed = to allow the person
time

47. Agnosia
• The inability to recognize objects, people,
sounds, shapes
• Try to use familiar items
• Go where the person is
• Mirror there comments
• Do not correct

48. Focus on Communication
• Your examples are right in your program
– What do you do when a resident says I gotta go
home?
– What do you do when a resident says you stole
my belt!
– What do you do when a resident says can you
help me out of this chair?
– I have to go to the bathroom!

49. On going Volunteer Training
• This is a challenge
• Survey volunteers
• Do on the spot in-servicing
• Invite to existing training if possible
• Train for specific issues – keep it short

50. The End
• Thanks for
attending
• Any
questions??
• Enjoy the
Boards!!!
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