Build Trust Through Expertise: Use Dementia Care Training As A Client Acquisition Tool

Nearly 7 million Americans, age 65 or older, are living with dementia. By 2050, the Alzheimer’s Association projects this number will climb to nearly 13 million, creating a ripple effect across impacted families and the dire need for specialized training in the continuum of care.   

As a result, home care agencies have the opportunity to play an integral part in the care journey for both the client and their family. It’s important to leverage dementia care training and relevant resources so your agency is equipped to adequately address concerns (while also conveying to families the value of your agency over competitors.) Although families might not know where to start when it comes to selecting home care assistance, getting the right care for their loved ones is a top priority. 

While costs can often be a constraint, family members’ concerns can be boiled down to one word - trust. Incorporating dementia training, specialized certifications and tailored care plans as an agency standard demonstrates your commitment to person-centered dementia care and reassures clients they’ll receive quality care. 

Specialized knowledge and expertise build trust.

In any given city, there are likely a dozen or more options for home care services. Many agencies likely offer dementia care as a service, but having the reassurance that they meet, or even exceed, the state’s training requirements, where applicable, can offer a sense of relief. Training requirements for caregivers, standards or lack thereof, vary significantly by state. 

Required Annual Dementia Care Training By States

Knowing an employer has taken extra steps to ensure their staff is dementia care certified demonstrates a focused commitment to care and gives a nod of added trust that a loved one is in good, capable hands. 

The number of options and information can be challenging to sift through, but there’s no comparison to a care provider who offers comprehensive dementia care. This takes into consideration other areas of concern for dementia patients as noted by the Alzheimer’s Association: safety, falls prevention, behavioral health, and others. This extensive, specialized training can distinguish your agency. In fact, it can increase word-of-mouth recommendations in your community and across healthcare referral sources. 

It’s also important to share how you train your caregivers to work with clients living with dementia and their families. Here are a few ways to show how your team is bettering their lives:   

• Explain the thoroughness of your dementia care programming: You may share about your facility’s onboarding and hiring process, its unique dementia care services, and some example client success stories.
• Properly introduce the caregiver to the family during and/or before their first shift: This can include getting them acquainted with the house, the care that’s needed, and other nuances.
• Practice and live these principles as a leader: Dementia care skills and understanding aren’t just for your care staff, you can demonstrate these skills first-hand when meeting with referral partners and conducting home assessments.

"CareAcademy is significantly enhancing the lives of our residents by elevating the quality and effectiveness of our care through its comprehensive training programs. For instance, the extensive range of Alzheimer’s and dementia courses available on CareAcademy has allowed us to assign targeted training to our care teams. This focused education has improved our communication skills and caregiving techniques, leading to a marked enhancement in our residents' quality of life and overall well-being,” Tera Rudloff, Vice President of Clinical and Education at WindRiver Pinnacle Groves. 

Anticipate what clients and family members are looking for.

One of the best things you can do to support your team is to provide them with the tools and information to plan ahead. This doesn’t just mean getting schedules caught up to a certain date. 

It means compiling information from inquiry calls. Analyze what common themes repeatedly come up and which approaches and solutions are most effective. You can also reach out to families who chose your agency for their loved ones and ask them deeper questions about their search process and what led them to choose your agency. 

Based on key themes and trends in the long-term care industry, this list of strategies can help you become the provider of choice for dementia clients:

Understand dementia progression: There is no single or linear path for dementia. Each client is unique but the structure follows early, middle, and late phases, with its own set of symptoms and observations to be aware of. Listen intently when you’re on an inquiry call, this can help you piece together approximately what stage the client might be in and how to properly train and staff caregivers appropriately. 

READ MORE: Effective Communication Strategies with Dementia Patients: Enhancing Connections

Implement Behavior management techniques: One of the chief reservations families may have in looking for home care services is if their loved one displays signs of distressing or violent behavior. This is an opportunity for you to reassure families that your business is tuned in to how dementia can manifest differently and that your caregivers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to de-escalate client situations and approach them with empathy. Knowing these techniques and reinforcing this dementia-specific training can be essential in ensuring client success and caregiver safety. 

Support activities of daily living (or ADLs): Clients living with dementia need the same types of support that other clients do, but they may need activities to be adapted to their level of ability and understanding. It’s important for caregivers to empower clients to do what they can and know when to step in or cue a client to go to the bathroom, for example. 

“Putting each of these strategies in this order reinforces the importance of understanding dementia itself and how to manage its condition with the client’s wishes in mind. When they are cared for with love and compassion, the tasks will come naturally,” Andrew Mantuano, Director of Content at CareAcademy shared.

Well-trained staff connect you to overall business growth.

Helping families see the value of your services through training adds tangible value in both your agency’s earnings and retention. Not only that, but there is a return on investment when you provide caregivers with the right resources and training. 

This happens for a few reasons, including more confident caregivers and increased continuity of care. Our clients have seen firsthand how caregiver confidence increases by 71% after taking dementia care-specific classes. 

Ensure your caregivers are equipped with the specialized skills and knowledge for dementia care. You’ll help build their confidence in navigating a variety of scenarios and increase their longevity with your agency. Unlock your caregivers' potential by starting your free trial of CareAcademy today.