Dementia Training That Sticks
Working in dementia care is one of the most rewarding roles in senior living. It is also one of the most challenging. While many communities provide required dementia education, the real question is whether that training is helping staff feel confident, prepared, and supported when they step onto the floor.
On a recent episode of the Smart Aging™ Podcast, I sat down with Kelly Burnett, Director of Dementia Training and Programming at The Carrington at Lincolnwood, to talk about what effective dementia training looks like and how communities can move beyond checking a box.
Training Is More Than Compliance
Many senior living communities rely on online training platforms to meet state requirements. While these tools provide important foundational knowledge, Kelly believes they often fall short when it comes to practical application.
Staff may complete a training module, pass a quiz, and move on, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to respond when a resident is distressed, confused, or refusing care.
The reality is that dementia care requires practice, coaching, and ongoing support. “People are often expected to figure it out on the floor,” Kelly explained. “But this work is hard, and we need to acknowledge that.”
Start by Understanding Staff Needs
One of Kelly’s first steps when training staff is simple: ask questions. Before diving into education, she asks team members to assess their own confidence levels and identify areas where they struggle most.
Common responses include:
- Residents asking to go home
- Managing delusions or hallucinations
- Responding to refusal of care
- Supporting residents who are restless or agitated
By understanding what staff are experiencing, training becomes more relevant and immediately useful.
Buy-In Comes from Real Solutions
One of the biggest barriers to training is engagement. Staff are busy, and many have attended countless mandatory trainings over the years. Kelly has found that buy-in improves when education directly addresses real situations happening in the community. Rather than focusing solely on theory, she encourages staff to share challenges and brainstorm solutions together. She also celebrates successes whenever staff discover techniques that improve resident outcomes.
One example involved a resident who became upset before showers. Staff discovered that playing Ave Maria before and during the shower helped her remain calm. That solution didn’t come from a textbook. It came from frontline caregivers paying attention and sharing what worked.
Recognizing these moments reinforces that everyone plays a role in improving care.
The Power of Hands-On Learning
Kelly emphasized that people learn best when they can practice. One of her favorite examples involved a resident who staff believed could no longer feed herself. Through a hand-under-hand approach, staff gently helped initiate the eating process. After a few guided movements, the resident took over and began feeding herself independently.
The lesson wasn’t that the resident had lost her abilities. The lesson was that she needed support initiating the task. Moments like these create powerful learning experiences because staff can immediately see the impact of changing their approach.
Signs That Training Is Working
How do you know your dementia training is making a difference? According to Kelly, the answer lies in everyday interactions. She shared an example of a resident who became upset with a caregiver. Instead of arguing or correcting the resident, the caregiver paused and responded with empathy: “I’m sorry. I had no right to make you feel that way.” The resident immediately relaxed, thanked the caregiver, and the situation de-escalated. When staff begin replacing correction with connection, that’s a sign the training is taking hold.
Life Stories Matter
One of the most effective ways to support residents living with dementia is understanding who they are beyond their diagnosis.
Kelly shared several examples of residents reconnecting with lifelong roles and interests:
- A former piano teacher who began playing music again
- A lifelong homemaker who found purpose helping set tables
- A retired physician who enjoyed accompanying staff on “rounds”
- Residents who rediscovered painting, music, and meaningful hobbies
These moments happened because staff understood the person’s history and used it to create engagement opportunities. When care teams know a resident’s story, they can build experiences that support identity, purpose, and dignity.
Making Training Work in Busy Communities
Not every community has a dedicated dementia educator. Fortunately, training doesn’t always require lengthy classroom sessions.
Kelly recommends:
- Five-minute learning moments during team huddles
- Quick discussions about communication strategies
- Real-life coaching after resident interactions
- Visual reminders posted in staff areas
- Mobile apps and micro-learning resources
The key is consistency. Small learning opportunities repeated regularly can have a significant impact over time.
Technology Can Help
Technology is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for both training and care delivery. Resources such as educational apps, online learning libraries, and dementia-specific training platforms give staff access to information when they need it most. Technology can also help teams quickly access resident preferences, interests, and life stories, allowing caregivers to personalize interactions and engagement opportunities. As senior living continues to evolve, these tools will play an important role in helping staff deliver more individualized care.
Looking Ahead
The next generation of older adults is already changing senior living. Future residents will arrive with smartphones, tablets, streaming playlists, social media accounts, and different expectations around technology and communication. Dementia training will need to evolve alongside them.
What remains constant, however, is the need for empathy, understanding, and person-centered care. As Kelly shared throughout our conversation, the goal isn’t simply teaching staff what dementia is. It’s helping them build the confidence, skills, and compassion needed to support each person as an individual. Because great dementia care starts with seeing the person first.