Author:
Kim Warchol, President and Founder of DCS at CPI
Meet a Dementia Capable Care Superstar
In this blog series “Meet a Dementia Capable Care Superstar,” we will introduce you to individuals and organizations who are going above and beyond, to create a dementia capable workforce and to deliver high quality care and services.
What is it that inspires confidence when someone is selecting a place to live for themselves or someone they love? There are many senior living options out there. So, what is it that matters most to those making the choice?
In senior living, the environment – the cleanliness, beauty, inside and outside amenities- does matter. No doubt it’s often the first thing someone notices. But it is not the last thing and certainly in my experience, it is not the most important thing.
I’ve worked in senior living for several years and I’m convinced the most important thing is for shoppers to feel confidence and trust in the staff who would be caring for and interacting with their loved one. Don’t get me wrong, great meals, activities, private rooms, and beautiful common spaces matter too, but nothing compares to being on a facility tour and seeing staff’s true compassion, kindness, and expertise in action.
Frank Residences – An Organization You Should Get to Know
At Frank Residences they believe in making the moment the best it can be, by providing high quality care stating, “Here at Frank Residences, we put a significant effort into providing exceptional care to those living with Alzheimer’s or forms of dementia. No other memory care in San Francisco is quite like the care offered here.” Their goal is, “To enable and empower and encourage participation in all the activities and experiences life can offer.”
This organization knows the quality of the care and the quality of those who are providing the care really matters. They have put their beliefs into action by investing in a training team; Robert Sarison, Keyatta Shade, Gloria Vo, and Rebecca Holzman, who have worked together to train hundreds of their staff in Dementia Capable Care. We couldn’t be prouder to be the training organization they selected to help build their specialized dementia care workforce.
An Interview with Robert Sarison, LMFT- Assistant Executive Director at Frank Residences Assisted Living and Memory Care, and DCC-CI since 2019
We had the privilege of interviewing Robert. He shed some light on the reasons why it mattered so much for his organization to prepare his staff with Dementia Capable Care training. Let’s hear what Robert had to say.
Q: What is your definition of high-quality memory/dementia care?
A: “High quality dementia care is creating and sustaining an environment where residents feel safe, supported and are engaged in robust programming that facilitates their best ability to function and the best quality of life.
High quality dementia care also includes ongoing staff training and recognition so that retention is high because residents benefit most from consistency and reliability.
Lastly, it includes providing families with education and support so they can maintain positive connections with their loved ones at every stage of the journey.”
Q: Why is dementia training (training that is person-centered and focused on supporting people at different dementia stages and preventing and de-escalating “behaviors” without drugs) so important?
A: “The behaviors a person with dementia often experiences will usually deescalate when their needs are met. The need for attuned person-centered attention, that is specific to the individual’s likes, interests and positive memories and associations will almost always create a “new and better moment” for residents with behaviors.”
Q: What was the problem(s) or goal(s) you were looking to address by partnering with us and training yourself and others in Dementia Capable Care?
A: “We were looking to:
a. Improve safety
b. Reduce the use of medication
c. Reduce falls
d. Reduce risk of elopement
We also wanted there to be more continuous therapeutic engagement for the residents.”
Q: We know you have choices. What were some of the key reasons you decided to partner with us and utilize our Dementia Capable Care training to train others?
A: “We were looking for a curriculum that is pragmatic and effective, one that empowers care partners to have reliable tools. We also wanted staff to better understand how a person living with dementia will experience changes in their capabilities and how their ability to express their own needs will change over time. Dementia Capable Care (DCC) training provides this structure and has been well received and adopted by our care team.”
Q: How does becoming a Dementia Capable Care Certified Instructor (and earning DCC-CI and DCCS Credentials and Badges) help you to:
- Forward your mission?
A: “Our organizational mission is to “Enrich the Lives of Older Adults” which aligns very well with DCC.”
b. Attract/maintain quality staff?
A: “The training is always well received by staff and we follow up to see how the tools and concepts they learn are being effectively applied.
- Our retention is good. 66% of the 164 current staff in Frank Residences (the Assisted Living portion of the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, which I oversee) have been employed here for more than one year.
- Of the current 164 employees approximately 60 employees have completed DCC training-these would be caregivers, dining servers and Life Enrichment primarily.”
c. Attract/maintain new business/clients or referrals?
A: “Frank Residences memory care has built a reputation for excellence, and we are already the largest memory care provider in San Francisco, with more residents living here than any other community in the city.
Regarding memory care census:
- We are not quite full because we are the largest provider in the Bay Area.
- We are at about 80% occupancy in memory care and 94% in assisted living.
- I provide an abridged DCC training for families and the feedback is that the training helps them with understanding how to better connect with their loved ones. Word of mouth is our single greatest referral source. So, I think it is fair to say the DCC training has positively impacted our census and our reputation for excellence.”
Q: Can you tell us a bit more about your story, such as describing your journey of becoming a Dementia Capable Care-Certified Instructor and the way you utilize it in your practice?
- Why was it so important to you?
A: ”I have spent the last 27 years working in the dementia care world, training countless staff. DCC provided new and effective ways of thinking about how to improve quality of life for the residents and families I serve and the staff I oversee.”
b. Any impactful stories or lessons learned along the way?
A: “Keep calm, stay patient and always think creatively as to how to address even the most challenging and difficult resident or family situations.”
Closing
Thank you, Robert! Robert’s passion for his work, his staff, residents and their families, shines through. He has shared valuable information and insights I believe we can all learn from.
A goal of Frank Residences is “Celebrating the now.” As we know, when a person has dementia, it isn’t beneficial for anyone to hark back to who the person used to be, but instead we must compassionately, and skillfully embrace the person where they are today and make each moment the best it can be. This goal can only be accomplished with compassionate and qualified staff, and this is something Robert and his organization certainly know and stand behind.
We are so very grateful to be the dementia training partner of Frank Residences. Together we are making a difference, helping those living with dementia, their loved ones and care partners to thrive.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can become a Dementia Capable Care - Certified Instructor and help you and your organization earn recognitions for building a Dementia Capable Care Workforce...
Contact us:
Phone: 866-954-1910
E-mail: DCSsolutions@crisisprevention.com
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Posted: September, 2024
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