DEMENTIA CARE TRAINING GETS THE THUMBS UP

At Essie Summers village, staff members were honoured for completing Ryman Healthcare’s dementia care micro-credential.

Maridel Balingit and Rajender Kaur (Pictured) are just two of 19 Rymanians studying to gain the micro-credential. They were presented with graduation certificates in Christchurch.

Maridel and Rajender say the micro-credential has enhanced their confidence in providing person-centred care for residents living with dementia.

“At the moment I’m working in the special care unit, after I finished (studying). I’m not facing any trouble at all... it’s really amazing,” Rajender says.

Maridel says she completed the course around the demands of work and family life, “I was so glad Ryman offered me the course. It really helped me a lot with the residents in special care”.

Operations Education Team Leader Matt Aldridge provided the two with the formal recognition at the Essie Summers village.

“The micro-credential is a really amazing programme which supports our overall dementia care strategy,” Matt says.

The 16-week online programme is developed and facilitated by Ryman, and hosted and moderated by Otago Polytechnic.

Matt says the micro-credential qualification is being rolled out to more than 400 care givers working in Ryman’s special care units, and there are hopes to roll it out to a broader audience of team members in future.

The myRyman Life Microcredential has been researched and designed by Ryman Healthcare to challenge perspectives on dementia commonly held by care teams, families and residents.

Each of the four modules addresses a different perspective on dementia so that care teams are equipped with specialised knowledge and skills to provide person-centred care.

This model supports people with dementia to live in the moment, and to feel kindness, love, and security. It promotes spontaneity, laughter, and happiness in the moment.

There was certainly celebration for Maridel and Rajender’s work.

The meeting, which drew in both village residents and team members, also provided a platform for a talent quest amongst staff representing different parts of the village.