Teepa Snow, the founder and CEO of Positive Approach to Care, an approach to dementia care used by many senior living operators across the country, has expressed concerns about the current state of dementia care. She notes that the number of older Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is growing every day, while providers of memory care services are not adequately equipped to care for them.
Snow emphasized the urgency of the situation, as the “silver wave” of older adults approaches. She pointed out that many staff members are not adequately trained to recognize the early signs and signals of various forms of dementia, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention.
The need for increased training in dementia care is more crucial than ever, especially with statistics showing that a significant percentage of residents in long-term care are developing cognitive changes consistent with the early signs of dementia. However, despite the growing need for proper training, only a small number of states currently require specific dementia care training for all staff members.
Snow highlighted the challenges of dealing with the diverse and complex nature of dementia, stressing the importance of evolving communication and assessment methods. She also emphasized the need for family members and caretakers to be educated on the physical changes in the brain caused by dementia.
Ultimately, Snow believes that collaboration and improved training are essential to address the deficiencies in memory care and dementia care, as the industry grapples with a growing population of older adults in need of specialized care.
