Dementia education for formal caregivers: Recommended curriculum

The incidence of Alzheimer's disease is growing at alarming rates. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, but it is projected the number affected will reach 16 million by 2050. Formal caregivers lack adequate training to care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. State mandates for dementia education vary greatly for the 40 states with such legislative action, and no uniform dementia-specific training standards exist. Research suggests formal caregivers in long-term care need initial and ongoing training in topics involving physical, psychological, social, and other topics for adequate dementia care. Such training has the potential to decrease staff turnover and improve quality of life for dementia individuals. This executive position paper provides recommendations for uniform dementia-specific training curriculum necessary to meet the future needs of an aging society.