Law Enforcement Ill Prepared for the Challenges of Alzheimer’s and Dementia; Sparta, New Jersey Sets Good Example
Saturday, November 12th, 2005.
Sparta, NJ – The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (http://www.nccdp.org) completed training with the Sparta, NJ Police Department in the area of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care. The course was 7 hours and the entire police force completed the training conducted over a two-day period. The NCCDP seminar included: recognizing abuse and neglect in the home, communication (live their truth), paranoia, hallucinations, aggressive behaviors, catastrophic reactions, wandering, elopement, hoarding, symptoms of dementia, care giver issues, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, feelings, medications, depression, sexuality and intimacy issues, cultural diversity, nutrition, activities, pain, environment, spirituality and end of life issues.
The instructors were Lynn Biot Gordon LCSW, CDP of Gordon Social Work Consultants and Sandra Stimson CALA, ADC, CDP of Alternative Solutions in Long Term Care (http://www.activitytherapy.com) who are approved instructors for NCCDP. The training was conducted at Knoll Properties; a HUD subsidized senior housing in Sparta, NJ. At the end of the seminar the officers received a certificate of completion.
Law enforcement across the country are receiving more and more calls from elderly people in their community who are confused, care givers calling because family members have wandered away from home and residents within long term care who have eloped from the facility. Often times, they are faced with a confused elderly and are unsure how to respond to questions such as looking for their child, or past residence or employment.
As the number of dementia cases continues to increase nationwide and worldwide, there is a great necessity to insure that care givers, health care front line staff and community service organizations, such as law enforcement, EMT’s and clergy are well trained to provide appropriate, competent and sensitive direct care and support for the dementia patient. The goal of the council is to develop and encourage comprehensive standards of excellence in the profession and delivery of dementia care.
The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners was formed in 2001 by a group of professionals with varying work and personal experiences in the field of dementia care. Their backgrounds include Nursing, Psychiatry, Therapeutic Recreation, Social Services, Long Term Administration, Elder Law and Nursing Home Administration.
If, you would like more information about training for law enforcement and health care facilities, please contact 1 877 729 5191 or visit our web site at http://www.nccdp.org. For in-service directors working in health care facilities, the NCCDP offers Train the Trainer seminars nationwide and provides all the necessary tools to implement comprehensive dementia training for their health care workers and front line staff.
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