8-hr In-Service: NTG: I/DD & Dementia for Support Staff

Target Audience:

This curriculum is designed for staff/caregivers with direct or ancillary care responsibilities for supporting older adults with intellectual disability at disability, health care, and aging related agencies or staff/caregivers providing supports in home settings. 

Course Description/Purpose:

Many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are living longer resulting from the positive effects of improved health care and quality of life. Concurrently, with advanced age, more adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are and will be experiencing age related health problems and exhibiting symptoms of cognitive impairment and decline, some attributable to dementia.  This workshop is based on the NTG’s new Education and Training Curriculum on Dementia and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to help those who care for the aging population of people with Intellectual Disabilities.  This training covers information about organizations advocating for ID with dementia, maintaining function and well-being in later years, health challenges and disparities for adults with ID over the lifespan and how dementia may appear different.  It covers information about different types of dementia and medication, and cultural considerations.  It explains behavior of ID with dementia and provides strategies on what you can do to help the individual.