title: Bridging the gap: an innovative dementia learning program for healthcare assistants in hospital wards using facilitator-led discussions.
abstract: Nursing a person with dementia in a ward setting can be stressful and a challenge for staff and patients alike. Healthcare assistants are identified as requiring a specific training program. They form part of the front-line workforce and yet have the least access to training but often most contact with patients. The program in this study focused on person-centered care and used six self-study workbooks. Experienced registered nurses are trained to be facilitators of 12 group discussions in the ward setting. The training program viewed the facilitator as playing a key role in empowering the healthcare assistant but also in promoting reflective practice. The outcomes to date have been positive and showed a development in confidence and competence of the healthcare assistants involved.
authors.affiliation: The Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling, U.K. a.j.chapman@stir.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D006266:Health Education; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D009042:Motivation; D016730:Program Development; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*