Manitoba Dementia Education Initiative Sees Results

In November 2007 Manitoba Health announced that 1.2 million dollars would be dedicated to providing dementia care education to staff members working in Manitoba’s personal care homes over the following three and a half years. This commitment represents action in fulfilling the challenge of developing the knowledge and skills of frontline health care staff as laid out in the Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia in Manitoba. The Strategy asserts that in order for people with dementia to have an optimum quality of life, staff that care for them as they progress through the continuum of the disease must be proficient in the areas of medical care and person-centred interventions.

In 2007, Manitoba Health authorized the adoption of the P.I.E.C.E.S.™ dementia education curriculum and engaged the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba to implement the program in cooperation with the province’s health authorities.

The P.I.E.C.E.S.™ curriculum provides a one day overview for the senior management of care facilities and a 40 hour training program to staff who are tasked with resident assessment and care planning. Through use of a comprehensive approach to problem solving, health care teams increase their capacity to support older adults who are experiencing complex physical, cognitive and behavioral needs.

In 2008-2009, the project roll-out year, the dementia education initiative provided education to 369 senior managers and to 337 frontline staff from 54% of Manitoba’s personal care homes. Regarding the 40 hour frontline training, one participant commented: “The P.I.E.C.E.S.™ framework provides a useful structure to ensure that things are not missed (when assessing a resident.)”

Some ways that the dementia education initiative has been changing the lives of people living in care facilities include:

Resident assessments are becoming more holistic; staff are learning to consider the possibility of pain or depression instead of quickly turning to antipsychotic medication when behaviour changes.

Staff are gaining a greater understanding of the causes of changing behaviour.

Staff are being more innovative in problem solving when assisting a resident with changing behaviours.

Resident disabilities are being accommodated.

Staff are placing greater value on their interaction with family members as a resource and as part of the care team.

In 2009-2010, it is anticipated that the dementia education initiative will offer a further thirteen 40 hour training programs that will provide valuable professional development to an additional 300 care home staff. As these individuals apply their new knowledge in collaboration with previously trained staff and mentor others in the use of the assessment and care planning framework, the quality of life of people with dementia living in Manitoba’s personal care homes will be enhanced.

If you have any concerns regarding these or any other issues please email Norma Kirkby, Program Director or Sylvia Rothney, Chief Executive Officer

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In Manitoba almost 19,000 people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.