Training begins today in Superior to improve the lines of communication between caregivers and patients with dementia.
"My goal was to better train our staff to deal with issues that arise," said Chris Fitch, activities director for St. Francis in the Park Health and Rehabilitation Center, who organized the event. She spread the word to caregivers for a chance at the free training.
By Monday, 75 people had signed up to hear speaker Lynn Erkkila, a licensed independent social worker and clinical resource specialist for Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul.
"I'm excited to see this many attending," Fitch said. Now, she is debating which room to put them all in.
The training was suggested by Dr. Tracy Tomac, a psychiatrist with St. Luke's Hospital.
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"It's something people really want and really need," she said.
Erkkila's presentation gives caregivers tips and skills to deal with patients who may not be able to verbalize what they need, Tomac said. It also provides a closer link with Bethesda.
Bethesda provides outpatient and inpatient programs for patients with dementia. The long-term, acute-care, 13-bed Geriatric Medical Behavioral Unit provides services to patients from Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
"There are just not enough resources out there to deal with these issues," Erkkila said.
Tomac likened Bethesda to the Mayo Clinic, except it specializes in geriatric behavior.
"We don't have to send people often," Tomac said, but "it's nice to have a facility that specializes."
Attendees for today's training include hospice workers, caregivers from assisted living facilities and traditional nursing homes and staff from North Country Independent Living. The wide variety shows how much the training is needed, Fitch said.
According to Science Daily, about 24 million people worldwide have dementia and that is expected to double every 20 years.
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"It will benefit everybody in the community," Fitch said.
