Abstract
In 2015 over 46 million people worldwide were living with dementia; a number expected to affect 131.5 million people by 2050 (Alzheimer's Association, 2015). Up to 90% of people living with dementia in health care settings experience symptoms of aggression, agitation, anxiety, sexual disinhibition, and wandering (Surr et al., 2016) and require staff knowledge and skill to be adequately cared for. To improve knowledge and skills of undergraduate students in a college of nursing and health professions, three faculty members at a midsize university attended Teepa Snow's Positive Approach® to Care (PAC) Certification course. Faculty achieved certification as PAC trainers or as a PAC coach. The PAC Certification course uses the train-thetrainer model to certify individuals as PAC Trainers and PAC Coaches to spread knowledge and learn techniques to care for persons living with dementia. Content in the PAC course focused on understanding dementia and developing positive communication and care partnering techniques to change the way caregivers approach and interact with persons living with dementia (PLWD). Faculty used the PAC curriculum to teach content to students from the disciplines of nursing, occupational therapy assistant (OTA), gerontology, and dental hygiene as an innovative way to address challenges future healthcare professionals will face in caring for PLWD. The content on dementia knowledge, communication and care partnering techniques met curriculum and course objectives for student learning. Faculty used the Adult Experiential Learning Cycle (AELC) approach to teaching content and care partnering activities (Kolb, 1984). The AELC approach included engaging students in an "experience," sharing or reflecting about the experience, processing how the activity felt by the students, generalizing about the activity, and discussion regarding application in various healthcare settings for PLWD. Specifically PAC certified faculty integrated the Positive Physical Approach™ (PPA) and hand-under-hand™ interventions into course content. Healthcare providers need knowledge of neurological brain change when working with PLWD and skills to provide care while recognizing and adapting to the changing brain. Faculty were able to integrate the content into undergraduate health professions courses using key components of the PAC curriculum.
Sigma Membership
Omicron Psi
Lead Author Affiliation
University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana, USA
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Positive Approach, Dementia, Adult Experiential Learning Cycle, AELC, PAC, Teepa Snow, Alzheimer's Disease, Care Partnering, Alzheimer's Therapy
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Pamela; Ehlman, Katie; and Nunning, Jennifer, "Integration of Teepa Snow's Positive Approach® to Care into multidisciplinary health professions courses" (2018). General Submissions: Presenations (Oral and Poster). 81.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/gen_sub_presentations/2018/posters/81
Conference Name
GSA Annual Scientific Meeting
Conference Host
Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education
Conference Location
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Conference Year
2018
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Peer-review: Single Blind
Acquisition
Self-submission
Integration of Teepa Snow's Positive Approach® to Care into multidisciplinary health professions courses
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
In 2015 over 46 million people worldwide were living with dementia; a number expected to affect 131.5 million people by 2050 (Alzheimer's Association, 2015). Up to 90% of people living with dementia in health care settings experience symptoms of aggression, agitation, anxiety, sexual disinhibition, and wandering (Surr et al., 2016) and require staff knowledge and skill to be adequately cared for. To improve knowledge and skills of undergraduate students in a college of nursing and health professions, three faculty members at a midsize university attended Teepa Snow's Positive Approach® to Care (PAC) Certification course. Faculty achieved certification as PAC trainers or as a PAC coach. The PAC Certification course uses the train-thetrainer model to certify individuals as PAC Trainers and PAC Coaches to spread knowledge and learn techniques to care for persons living with dementia. Content in the PAC course focused on understanding dementia and developing positive communication and care partnering techniques to change the way caregivers approach and interact with persons living with dementia (PLWD). Faculty used the PAC curriculum to teach content to students from the disciplines of nursing, occupational therapy assistant (OTA), gerontology, and dental hygiene as an innovative way to address challenges future healthcare professionals will face in caring for PLWD. The content on dementia knowledge, communication and care partnering techniques met curriculum and course objectives for student learning. Faculty used the Adult Experiential Learning Cycle (AELC) approach to teaching content and care partnering activities (Kolb, 1984). The AELC approach included engaging students in an "experience," sharing or reflecting about the experience, processing how the activity felt by the students, generalizing about the activity, and discussion regarding application in various healthcare settings for PLWD. Specifically PAC certified faculty integrated the Positive Physical Approach™ (PPA) and hand-under-hand™ interventions into course content. Healthcare providers need knowledge of neurological brain change when working with PLWD and skills to provide care while recognizing and adapting to the changing brain. Faculty were able to integrate the content into undergraduate health professions courses using key components of the PAC curriculum.
Description
Objective: After reviewing the poster and abstract participants will be able to discuss recommended steps to integrating the Positive Approach® to Care curriculum, which includes dementia knowledge, communication, and care partnering techniques into multiple undergraduate health professions courses.