Julie Boggess

In this course, you gain an understanding of why people with dementia sometimes behave as they do in reaction to stress. You also learn how to identify, prevent, and skillfully respond to individuals living with dementia. You also gain practical strategies on how to respond to some of the most common triggers of stress reactions: physical discomfort, unmet social needs, unsupportive environment, and ineffective care partner responses, and how to engage family members to help prevent stress reactions.

This course helps caregivers understand the value of empathy in caring for another person, provides tools to improve communication skills, especially with persons living with dementia, and self-care practice tips to avoid compassion fatigue.

Compassionate Touch® is a powerful, skilled touch approach that evidence shows is an effective non-pharmacological strategy to reduce behavioral reactions in dementia and end-of-life care. The gentle, hands-on techniques were developed with busy care partners in mind, offering practical and flexible tools that are easy to learn and integrated into daily care practices, while strengthening relationships with care partners.

Dementia Live® is a high impact, dementia simulation experience that immerses participants into life with dementia, resulting in a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with cognitive impairment and sensory change. Dementia Live® Coaches area authorized to implement the Dementia Live® program for staff training, family engagement, and community education.

Compassionate Touch® is an approach combining skilled touch and specialized communication shown to prevent stress reactions for people living with dementia and enhance quality of life for those in later stages of life. Compassionate Touch® Coaches are authorized to implement the program in their community or organization.