As an attending physician and a Medical Director, I attended an AMDA Webinar on Resident-to-Resident Aggression in the Spring of 2022.  The presentation by a team at Cornell University in New York shared videos of persons with dementia responding to escalating resident to resident tensions during everyday meal times and social events.  The escalation was missed by the staff and resulted in reportable adverse events.  In reflecting on these videos, I became convinced that I and the staff in my facilities were missing opportunities to improve resident-to-resident relations by trainings that identify accelerating resident tensions and introduce deescalating strategies.  Another webinar attendee, KJ Page (prior CALTCM Leadership Award winner), noticed I was on the webinar, affirmed my impression, and began an implementation process in her facility.

KJ and I are so glad that the California Partnership to Improve Dementia Care have sponsored a Train-The-Trainer webinar to help facilities and their corporate chains improve resident to resident relations using the evidenced based training materials developed by the Cornell University Team.  As per the attached flyer, CEUs are available for Nurses, Administrators, and MSWs.  Participation certificates are available for other staff, physicians, and Medical Directors. The first training is at 11:00 a.m. on a Wednesday, September 27 which may be an ideal time for facility staff.  The second time at 3:00 p.m. on a Thursday, September 28 was chosen as a likely better time for NPs, physicians, and Medical Directors.

Now that the pandemic is over and staffing is improving, quality improvement projects that reduce problem behaviors may reduce facility stress and save time.  Where this program has been implemented, the quality of life of residents has improved as well as the morale of staff and the administrative team.

As a leader in your homes, I hope you will attend and encourage not only your QAPI team, but also your ownership group to take this on as a QAPI project for all their facilities.  This is not a one-off event, but the start of an important journey with after webinar implementation support as an option for those who attend.

Now is the time to register. 

See you there!

Click here for flyer.