Quality Statement 12: Caregiver Training and Education

Resources Quality Statements Advisory Committee About

12

Caregiver Training and Education

Caregivers of people living with dementia and symptoms of agitation or aggression have access to comprehensive training and education on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms. This training and education includes management strategies that are consistent with people’s care plans.

Background

Caregivers of people living with dementia and symptoms of agitation or aggression should be provided with the information and support services required to provide adequate care. In particular, they need to understand how to identify triggers for the person’s behaviours and how to use de-escalation techniques to help manage these behaviours. Understanding how to identify the needs of people living with dementia helps reduce occurrences of agitation or aggression and may also reduce caregiver stress and burden.

What This Quality Statement Means

For Patients

Support and information should be provided to your family and other people who care for you so they can help you in the best possible way.

For Clinicians

Offer families and caregivers comprehensive training and education programs on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms.

For Health Services

Ensure that hospitals and long-term care homes are able to offer families and caregivers comprehensive training and education programs on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms.

Quality Indicators

Process Indicator

Percentage of caregivers of people living with dementia and symptoms of agitation or aggression who are offered access to comprehensive training and education on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms

Denominator: total number of caregivers of people living with dementia and symptoms of agitation or aggression
Numerator: number of people in the denominator who have access to comprehensive training and education on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms
Data source: local data collection

Percentage of caregivers of people living with dementia and symptoms of agitation or aggression who receive comprehensive training and education on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms

Denominator: total number of caregivers of people living with dementia and symptoms of agitation or aggression
Numerator: number of people in the denominator who receive comprehensive training and education on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms
Data source: local data collection

Structural Indicator Availability of comprehensive training and education programs on dementia and its associated behavioural symptoms for caregivers

Data source: local data collection

Definitions Used Within This Quality Statement

Caregivers

These are paid or unpaid people who help a family member, friend, or another person in need of assistance or support with daily living. In the case of a person with dementia, a caregiver may also be the person’s substitute decision-maker.

Caregiver training and education

This should include at minimum the following skills and information:

Dementia symptoms and disease progression
Prognosis and care plan strategy and monitoring
Benefits and risks of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options
Detection of behavioural risks and de-escalation and management techniques
Causes of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
Adaptive communication skills during times of stress
Functions of different professionals and health care settings
Medical-legal issues
Financial and legal planning for the person’s eventual incapacity
Advance care planning
Disagreement resolution processes for the person’s health care
Sources of local support services and groups
Sources of financial and legal advice and advocacy

Evidence to Improve Care