At Robert Sobukwe College of Education, we are committed to delivering the highest quality training.

At 1Care, we offer Caregiver Training with specialized focused training on Alzheimer and Dementia support, while our partner, Robert Sobukwe Nursing Academy, ensures that the training standard is of high quality.

 

Robert Sobukwe College of Education is a registered company with CIPC, with Registration Number 2021/364896/07. Offering SAIOSH Verified Health and Safety Courses, training and skills development for a wide variety of study fields in the Health and Safety Sector. Robert Sobukwe College of Education is registered with the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH).

SAIOSH is recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as a professional body to register Occupational Health and Safety Professionals in South Africa in terms of the NQF Act, Act 67 of 2008. SAIOSH is today the largest Occupational Health and Safety professional body in Africa and the leading source of information and networking opportunities within the Occupational Health and Safety profession in South Africa, and busy with their accreditation application process with QCTO.

 

Alzheimer and Dementia Elderly Care Training at 1Care

Building trust with you and your family

1Care's Alzheimer and Dementia Elderly Care Training is a program designed specifically to help people who work with elderly people to become qualified to provide elder care services. In order to qualify for certification, candidates need to pass a series of tests covering topics including gerontology, mental health, nutrition, physical health, and social issues. Candidates must also complete at least 320 hours of supervised practice under the supervision of a registered SANC professional.

 We require elderly care services for a number of reasons. First, an increasing number of people will require assistance with daily activities as our population ages. Second, senior living facilities will see an increase in demand as the baby boom generation ages. Thirdly, the number of people in need of long-term care will rise as our population continues to live longer. Fourth, more people will be able to pay for elder care services as our economy improves. Lastly, there will be an even greater demand for elder care services as our population grows more diverse. For the best elder care, we need professionals who have completed training in elder care.

Alzheimer and Dementia Elderly Care Training Curriculum

This Alzheimer and Dementia Elderly Care Training Curriculum was created in the hopes of offering a comprehensive and practical training on understanding and caring for persons with Alzheimer and Dementia. This course was compiled to educate as many people as possible, because we live in a world with an increasing number of people with Alzheimer and Dementia and we know that the more you understand Alzheimer and Dementia, the better you can care for people with Alzheimer and Dementia.

Course Modules
Module 1: Professional Practice and Ethics

• Ethical Practices in Health Care • Client rights/patients’ bill of rights • Caregiver rights • Confidentiality • Adult and Child abuse • Ethical characteristics of a Health Care Practitioner • The importance of creating your self-image • Communication and statement writing • Cultural awareness, sensitivity and safety • Advance Directives/Durable Power of Attorney

Module 2: Nutrition and Food Preparation

• Describe and explain basic concepts of nutrition and hydration. • Explain the importance of observing consumer rights in regard to food preferences. • Describe basic principles of menu planning and explain how to read food labels. • Identify and explain food safety techniques for preparing and storing food. • Describe special diets. • Explain what a Balanced Diet is • Understand and apply personal values and ethics

Module 3: Geriatric Care and Psychology

• Body Systems: The functions, changes with aging, care implications and conditions. • Physical disabilities and conditions: the brain and nervous system. • Psychological and emotional conditions. • Sexuality and disability. • Grief and End-Of-Life Issues.

Module 4: Alzheimer and Dementia Care

• The types and stages of dementia. • Importance of activities. • Managing difficult behaviors, and safety issues. • Identify and describe the activities of daily living issues related to dementia-specific care and personal care skills as they relate to dementia-specific care. • Describe how an irreversible dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), affects a person's memory, language, movement and speech. • Distinguish between different types of dementia and the symptoms associated with each type. • Identify the characteristics of each phase of AD, from the mild phase to the severe phase. • Discuss treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related problems.

Module 5: Practical Procedures

• Give examples of techniques that can be used to promote independence and respect a person’s preferences (for example, at mealtimes). • Identify resources to identify an individual’s mealtime needs. • Identify characteristics of people at risk for choking. • Identify choking prevention measures a health care practitioner/health care worker can use during mealtime. • Give examples of techniques that can be used to preserve dignity and privacy while providing personal care. • List risk factors for skin breakdown. • Explain the importance of repositioning and list techniques for preventing skin damage and pressure ulcers. • Identify and describe common assistive devices, including gait belt, walkers and wheelchairs. • Explain the importance of proper transfer skills and the safe use of assistive devices. • Identify issues related to helping with bathing and using the bathroom. • Describe and role-play techniques for positioning and transferring a person. • Use of gait belt. • Assistance with ambulation (with/without assistive devices). • Prepare written documentation following documentation guidelines. • Identify components of stress. • Identify and describe causes, effects and indicators of stress. • Describe appropriate coping strategies. • Explain the importance of time management. • Identify and describe techniques for prioritizing duties and developing a work schedule.

Module 5: Practical Procedures Continue

• Techniques for positioning a person in bed. • Techniques for positioning a person in a wheelchair. • Transfer in and out of a wheelchair (with or without assistive devices). • Transfer out of bed (sofa). • Simulate/role-play or describe assistance with ADLs. • Assistance with dressing. • Assistance with meals (total assistance/feeding, and prompting, hand-over-hand assistance). • Assistance with brushing teeth. • Identify and explain the basic principles and purpose of activities for clients. • Describe the importance of client rights and cultural or religious issues in regard to activity planning. • Identify examples of activities suitable for clients with specific disabilities. • Explain the purpose of reporting and documentation. • Describe the purpose of care and support plans. • Explain the importance of observing changes in a person and describe observation techniques. • Identify and explain signs and symptoms that need to be reported. • Describe and explain the importance of an emergency plan. • Describe and explain the principles of environmental, fire, and medical emergency procedures. • Identify and explain safety techniques for caregiver/health care worker. • Explain the use of a fire extinguisher. • Explain the term boundaries and relate it to professional standards. • Give examples of guidelines for professional boundaries. • List safety tips.

Course Cost, Requirements and Duration
Cost
  • Registration Fee: R250
  • Course Fee: R1000
  • Full Course Fee: R1250
Requirements
  • Certified Copy of ID or Asylum Paper
  • Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Police Clearance
  • Highest Standard Grade 10
Duration
  • 1 Month Theoretical Training
  • 2 Months Practical (320 Hours)

Practical will be completed at an Old Age Home or Frail Care Centre

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