ACES is an evidence-based structured psychoeducational intervention designed for family caregivers for people with dementia. Best Practice Caregiving has endorsed ACES as one of the top dementia caregiving programs in the U.S.—vetted, proven, and ready for implementation.
Description:
ACES is a face-to face workshop for caregivers of persons with memory loss. Caregivers will learn about resilience, stress and stress management, behavioral activation for mood stabilization, tools for changing difficult care recipient behaviors, communication with individual with dementia, family, & providers, and tools for happiness while caregiving such as positive thinking, gratitude and forgiveness.
Length:
Eight-hour workshop: divided into four 2-hour sessions, offered over a 4-week period
Intervention Style:
Delivered face-to-face in a small group format
Topics:
Stress, mood, communication, & challenging behaviors
Session Content:
Session 1: This session focus is on stress and mood management. It starts with stress management thru both recognition of chronic stress symptoms and application of mindful breathing techniques. Mood management will introduce the behavioral activation technique of positive activities which will be monitored throughout the following sessions.
Session 2: Focus is on working with challenging behaviors. A basic form of the behavior chain is taught to the participants along with methods of changing the trigger or reactions of the behavior.
Session 3: Focus is on communication. The session begins with strategies of communication with someone who has memory loss, progresses to how to ask the family for help complete with role play to reinforce the new methods, and if time allows, how to communication with medical providers.
Session 4: Focus is on the caregiver’s own quality of life. Session begins with discussions regarding forgiveness, gratitude, and the power of positive thinking followed by the importance of integrating skills learned during this workshop.
ACES Caregiving Workshop Training
The Optimal Aging Center offers ACES Workshop Trainings both on-site with a facilitator coming to your site or through Zoom. The cost of the trainings are the same with the exception that the actual cost for trainer’s flight and hotel would be added onto the onsite training.
All trainings included:
Didactics: On-site – two 4hr sessions or Zoom training – four 2hr sessions
Experiential: The trainees will attend a facilitator led caregiver workshop and participate as a caregiver.
Both Trainings also include:
- One ACES Facilitator manual per trainee
- One ACES Participant manual per trainee
- Weekly Zoom consultation meetings for the first 3 months following the training
Training Costs – $3700 for up to 8 Agency employees
For either type of training
- 1 Facilitator – 8hrs @ $200 per hour = $1600
- 9 hrs prep time @ $200 per hour = $1800
- 1.5 hrs admin time @ $200 per hour = $300
In addition, for on-site trainings
- Facilitator travel and 3 day lodgings (direct reimbursement for actual amount)
If you are interested in arranging training for your agency please send an email to ann@optimalagingcenter.com. We look forward to working with you and your colleagues to bring this evidence-based workshop to the caregivers in your area.