Trade Group Wants Long Term Care Facilities To Expand Dementia Training

Groups representing nursing homes and senior living facilities in Wisconsin hope to step up staff training regarding dementia.

As baby boomers age they’re more at risk for dementia and cases nationwide are expected to grow. John Sauer heads LeadingAge, a trade group for nonprofit long term care facilities in the state.

“The number of people with dementia over the next 20 years is really going to grow frighteningly rapidly,” said Sauer. “And so we are trying to have more people trained and aware.”

Groups like LeadingAge are urging facilities to offer staff online dementia training recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Part of training involves determining what underlying factors may be causing unwanted behavior such as aggression. Sauer says sometimes there are triggers, like pain or a change in environment.