ABOUT
THE CORE DEMENTIA CARE® PROJECT
Core Dementia Care® is an evidence–informed education protocol founded in person–centered, empowerment–oriented learning methods.
The curriculum provides information about dementia diseases and expands skills to effectively respond to symptoms of the disease; that is, cognitive impairment, behavioral symptoms and care-related needs, such that care outcomes are improved.
The program will enable care partners to effectively modify strategies to discover what contributes to the person with dementia feeling at ease, engaged, and enriched in everyday life. Learned strategies improve efforts to prevent or avoid unnecessary pain and suffering for the person with dementia which often leads to behavioral expressions.
The benefits for people with dementia in care environments that have successfully implemented the Core Dementia Care® training program show less depression, fewer negative behaviors, and increased participation in activities of daily living and social engagement. Focus Groups conducted with care partners indicate they believe they are more efficacious in their work; they experience better care outcomes, residents express more joy, and they feel less stress in their roles as care partners.
COLLABORATING PARTNERS
Health Care Association of Michigan
HCAM is a statewide, not-for-profit, trade association representing the interests of for-profit and not-for-profit, county medical care, VA, and hospital-based providers. HCAM represents more than 350 nursing facilities in the state of Michigan. HCAM will act as the project fiduciary, and carry out Project Administrator and Project Director roles.
Starling Center
The Starling Center is a progressive firm that focuses on the performance needs of organizations that serve older adults and people with disabilities. We support these organizations in the pursuit of human and systems development through workplace learning, culture transformation, and the cultivation of dynamic relationships. Since 1998 the Starling Center has provided person-centered consulting services and education to providers in the long-term care continuum across the state of Michigan and served as key personnel in 6 statewide grant initiatives.
NADONA | MI-NADONA
The National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (NADONA), along with the Michigan chapter MI-NADONA, is a leading professional organization for current and aspiring nursing leaders providing professional development, board certification, and clinical expertise related to the promotion of health and wellness of individuals in the long-term care and post-acute care continuum. As committed strategic partners, representatives of NADONA and MI-NADONA will be active coalition members offering guidance in clinical subject matter expertise and training implementation.
THE CORE DEMENTIA CARE® ADMINISTRATION TEAM
PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR
Stacey Starling, PhD
Principal Stacey Starling brings 30 years-experience in skilled nursing services, adult education, and instructional design to the project. As the founder of the Starling Center, she has dedicated her career to the performance needs of LTC providers serving older adults and people with disabilities. She holds a PhD in the Humanities with a concentration in Transformative Learning & Change and a Masters in Organizational Development. The focus of her doctoral research was Person-Centered Culture in Aging Services. From 2008-2015 Starling served as Key Personnel in 6 state of Michigan Grant Funded Projects related to person-centered care in community-based services and nursing homes. Her body of work includes the instruction design, development, and implementation of the state-wide implementation of Person-Centered Thinking Curriculum, including Master Trainer and Train-the-Trainer components.
IMPLEMENTATION MANAGER
Jamie Garcia, LMSW, ACC
Jamie Garcia, LMSW, ACC is a fully licensed clinical master social worker and certified activity consultant. She earned MSW from Michigan State University and holds an additional Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on leadership and adult education from Cornerstone University. She serves as an adjunct professor at Western Michigan University and has taught Research Methods, Program Evaluation and Program Development in the Master of Social work program. She has provided education on the behavior management process at the Michigan Nadonna DON boot camp since 2016. As a clinical consultant in the nursing home industry, she has developed and implemented programs to improve the psychosocial well-being of the residents and reduce psychoactive medication usage. She developed a successful intern program and coordinated the training and oversight of interns from several Michigan Universities to meet the unmet needs of the residents.