Education outreach to health care staff members
Community health care professionals work with people who have Alzheimer’s disease in many different places. These include senior housing buildings, day care programs, home health care agencies, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. These staff members also work in many different roles, including nursing, social work, dietary or activities, to name a few.
Health care staff might come from different places and work in different roles but they share a goal - working to support people with Alzheimer’s disease. Their work is rewarding but also challenging.
The Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center offers countless educational presentations, training workshops and conferences for health care professionals who work in Chicago, across the suburbs and beyond. As an Alzheimer’s center, we are committed to share the latest in Alzheimer’s, research and care.
Below are a few examples of our educational programs:
Annual Celebrate the CNA Conference
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide much support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. This annual conference recognizes their important work while providing the latest information on Alzheimer’s disease.
Senior Housing and Residential Care A.S.S.I.S.T. Networks (Alzheimer’s Staff Support Information Sharing Together)
These two free networks provide education to staff that work in senior housing buildings, assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
Memory Care Professionals Course: Training Residential Care Staff to be Leaders in the Future of Dementia Care
This six-day course is offered in collaboration with Leading Age Illinois. Leading Age is the largest eldercare association in the state. This course provides the framework to become leaders in their Memory Care Programs. Around 20 experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and residential care present in this innovative course.
Building Relationships with Individuals with Dementia
This course is offered as a thank you to the many communities who are part of the Memory and Aging Study and the Religious Order Study. The course helps staff members to consider how their own jobs work to support those with Alzheimer’s disease.
For information on the professional training offered through the RADC, call Susan Frick (312) 942-5359.
Education, recruitment and outreach in the community
As part of our mission, the staff at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center provides education on healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease and research to community groups throughout Chicago and the suburbs. During these presentations we share information and explore ways for people to partner with the RADC on current research efforts.
These presentations are free, interactive and informative. Many fear Alzheimer’s disease. We recognize the importance of having conversations with seniors and family members about aging, this disease and how we can work together to reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease for future generations.
Over the years, we have provided presentations through the following organizations:
- AARP local chapters
- Churches
- Community Nutrition Network Centers
- Community Renewal Society
- Condo Associations
- Family support groups
- Health clinics and local hospitals
- Libraries
- Male Health Forum
- Mather’s More Than a Café
- Park districts
- Police districts
- Red Hatters
- Retired Unit Alliances
- Rush Generations
- Senior centers
- Westside Association for Community Action
- Ward community organizations
- Westside Coalition for Seniors
Tips-Speaking to Family About Brain and Organ Donation.pdf
FAQ's About Research with Latinos.pdf
FAQ's-Research with Latinos in (Spanish).pdf
Informational-Difference between Epidemiological and Clinical Studies .pdf
We are always looking to partner with new organizations. To discuss the possibility of scheduling a talk at your organization, please feel free to contact Karen Graham at (312) 942-6118.
PETsCan
PETsCan is a community-based program of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. It is designed to help pet owners with physical limitations, financial limitations and lack of transportation keep and care for their dogs and cats.
Research is finding that pet ownership may lead to physical and mental well-being. Pet ownership may provide a sense of belonging and a sense of meaningful existence. Community participation is vital to the mission of the RADC. PETsCan’s approach allows us to achieve our goal of improving the well-being of individuals in the communities we serve. For more information, please contact Karen Graham at (312) 942-6118.