Hours: 3 Approvals: ARF, RCFE, APPROVED ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA
Course Summary
As dementia progresses, changes in brain structure and function often lead to behavioral expressions that reflect distress, unmet needs, altered perception, or difficulty navigating the environment. These behavioral expressions may range from changes in engagement or initiation to expressions involving increased intensity or safety risk for the individual and those around them. Understanding these expressions is essential for providing effective, compassionate, and safe care.
This course provides an in-depth examination of behavioral expressions associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, including their neurological, psychological, environmental, and unmet-need contributors. Emphasis is placed on understanding behavior as communication and on the use of person-centered, non-pharmacological strategies as the first line of intervention, consistent with current dementia care regulations and best practices.
Participants will explore common dementia-related behavioral expressions, including wandering (walking about or purposeful movement), rummaging or gathering, behavioral expressions involving increased intensity such as aggression, hallucinations and delusions, as well as behavioral expressions involving reduced engagement such as apathy and depression. Through practical examples and evidence-based frameworks, the course equips administrators and direct care staff with tools to distinguish between behaviors that present actual risk and those that reflect environmental mismatch or unmet needs, while supporting dignity, safety, regulatory compliance, and quality of life for individuals living with dementia.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Identify common behavioral expressions associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, including expressions involving increased intensity and expressions involving reduced engagement.
Explain underlying contributors to behavioral expressions, including unmet needs, environmental factors, altered perception, and disease progression.
Distinguish between behavioral expressions that present actual risk and those that are perceived as problematic due to environmental mismatch, caregiver response, or system factors.
Apply person-centered, non-pharmacological strategies to support individuals experiencing challenging behavioral expressions while maintaining dignity, safety, and the principle of least-restrictive care.
Demonstrate familiarity with person-centered behavioral expression management principles, including prevention, de-escalation, redirection, and supportive engagement.
Differentiate between behavioral expressions involving increased frequency or intensity and behavioral expressions involving reduced initiation or engagement, and select appropriate, individualized management approaches for each.
