Twelve modules, each 60 minutes long, focus on developing skills to prevent abuse and neglect, as well as other communications and relational skills. These modules:

• Use adult learner-centered approaches that actively engage participants in learning;
• Are easy to use by educators for in-services in a wide variety of long-term care settings; and
• Can be used as stand-alone training, though they are ideally taught consecutively to effectively address abuse and neglect.

Before you start: How to Use Training Materials (pdf 270KB)
Contact: Catherine Macomber for more information

Module 1: Person-Centered Care

Provides an overview of the principles of person-centered care as a foundation for abuse prevention and quality care for clients.

• Module 1: Person-Centered Care (zip 1.31MB)

Module 2: Identifying Potential Signs of Abuse & Neglect

Focuses on the identification of abuse and neglect by exploring the physical signs, emotional responses, and verbal comments an abused person might display.

• Module 2: Identifying Potential Signs of Abuse & Neglect (zip 1.45MB)

Module 3: Abuse & Neglect – Defining & Reporting

Discusses the importance of reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, and the appropriate steps for filing a report. Participants develop a working definition of abuse and neglect beyond the legal definition with the goal of early detection of abusive situations.

• Module 3: Abuse and Neglect – Defining & Reporting (zip 907KB)

Module 4: Stress Triggers & Trigger Busters – Life Influences

Identifying the everyday stressors of life that, if not managed appropriately, can lead a caregiver to abuse or neglect. Participants learn healthy, simple ways for self care, which ultimately improve the quality of care for the adult clients.

• Module 4: Stress Triggers & Trigger Busters – Life Influences (zip 1.03MB)

Module 5: Stress Triggers & Trigger Busters - Job Challenges

Provides a forum for identifying work-related stressors that can lead a caregiver to abuse or neglect. Participants brainstorm productive means for individuals to counteract these stressors in healthy ways and create a better work environment.

• Module 5: Stress Triggers & Trigger Busters – Job Challenges (zip 726KB)

Module 6: Stress Triggers & Trigger Busters - Client Behaviors

Explores challenging client behaviors and the impact these behaviors have on caregiver stress. A key component of this module is the identification of potential reasons for client behaviors and the role of caregivers in creating a person-centered environment.

• Module 6: Stress Triggers & Trigger Busters – Client Behaviors (zip 1.03MB)

Module 7: Stress Trigger Signals

Identifies the physical, mental, and social stress trigger signals that occur when a person is nearing a trigger point: the point at which abuse and neglect may occur. Participants learn their individual trigger signals as well as healthy means to reduce the impact of these stressors.

• Module 7: Stress Trigger Signals (zip 1.37MB)

Module 8: Active Listening

Introduces the skill of active listening as a means of promoting person-centered care, creating an abuse-free environment, and developing quality care and relationships for the clients and DAS. During this interactive session, participants learn basic listening skills that benefit both home and work environments.

• Module 8: Active Listening (zip 727KB)

Module 9: De-escalation - Conflict Resolution

Empowers DAS with practical means of identifying the factors often contributing to conflict as well as four simple steps to effectively resolve conflicts with co-workers or competent clients.

• Module 9: De-escalation – Conflict Resolution (zip 1.33MB)

Module 10: De-escalation - Client Behaviors

Provides the DAS with an understanding of how clients with cognitive loss communicate. The module also includes effective communication strategies and practical steps to de-escalate a client with cognitive loss during a time of distress or agitation.

• Module 10: De-escalation – Client Behaviors (zip 820KB)

Module 11: When Abuse Happens

Addresses the responsibilities of direct access staff when abuse does occur. By incorporating information provided in previous modules such as identifying and reporting abuse, person-centered care, and active listening, participants walk through the step-by-step process of identifying an abusive situation, responding to the client, and reporting the incident.

• Module 11: When Abuse Happens (zip 879KB)

Module 12: Active Communication - Learning Circle

Identifies the benefits of incorporating learning circles (a practical group communication method) into the fabric of any organization as a means of promoting healthy relationships and problem solving.

• Module 12: Active Communication – Learning Circle (zip 877KB)