CWC 2.0 Workshop series is an evidence-informed psychoeducational intervention designed for family caregivers for people with chronic illnesses delivered over a teleconference platform such as Zoom.  Each module was developed using current research on the topic under discussion.  The core modules regarding stress, mood, and challenging behaviors in dementia are based on Dr. Gallagher Thompson’s Coping with Caregiving from the original REACH research.

Description:

CWC2.0 is a module-based intervention.  Currently there are 9 modules covering 8 topics.  Topics are described below.  Each module (with the exception of challenging behaviors which is a two-module workshop) is designed to be offered as an independent 90-minute workshop.  Dependent on the needs of your Agency’s caregivers, the modules can be combined to form short intervention programs.  If you are seeking to address a specific issue, please contact Ann Bilbrey at ann@optimalagingcenter.com to discuss how this intervention can meet your needs.  Training includes module presentation as an independent workshop and instruction on how to combine multiple modules into a program.

Trainings are designed to be offered by a sponsoring Agency as we seek to establish a group expertise within the Agency to promote fidelity and professional inner-agency support for those facilitating the intervention. Trainees are not required to be licensed mental health professionals, Optimal Aging Center trainers will work with your Agency to provide the level of training needed to effectively deliver the CWC2.0 Suite to your agency’s caregivers.

Training Length:

Twenty-hour training workshop divided into ten 2-hour sessions.

Intervention Style:

Workshops are designed to be delivered virtually using a teleconferencing platform such as Zoom in a small group format.

Workshop Structure:

Each workshop:

  • Is 90 minutes long
  • Deals with one topic broken into 3 sub-topics
  • Starts with an agenda
  • Skills are taught through a combination of information, exercises, and discussion presented in an interactive method
  • Workshop is summarized using Take Away points
  • An Action Plan is created to integrate skills into the caregiver’s daily life.

Available Modules:

Focus:  Resilience

Sub-topics:
  • Examining Resilience
  • Positive/Negatives: Creating Balance
  • Atlas CareMap
Skills taught: Retrain the brain to recognize positives happening in caregiver’s life, illustrating family care eco-system.
Focus:  Communication

Sub-topics:
  • Empathy as Foundation of Communication
  • Communication and Memory Loss
  • Getting Help from Family and Friends
Skills taught:  Exercise for Practicing Empathy, Effective Communication Tools
Focus: Stress

Sub-topics:
  • How Caregiving Creates Stress
  • Recognizing Unique Personal Stress Signs
  • Relaxation Skills
Skills taught: Knowledge of personal stress signs, Deep Breathing, Visualization
Focus: Anger Management

Sub-topics:
  • Identifying Negative Emotions
  • Recognizing Intensity
  • Strategies for Managing
Skills taught: Associating thoughts and physical signs to intensity of anger, S.T.O.P. technique to managing anger
Focus:  Social Connectedness

Sub-topics:
  • How Caregiving can Lead to Isolation
  • Methods for Staying Engaged
  • Using the Internet to Find Support When Leaving the House isn’t Practical
Skills taught: Navigating the internet for engagement and support
Focus: Mood Management

Sub-topics:
  • How Caregiving affects Mood
  • Using Positive Activities to Manage Mood
  • How to Use Positive Activities Going Forward
Skills taught: Using and Modifying Positive Activities to Manage Mood
Focus: Self-Care

Sub-topics:
  • Caregiver Burnout
  • Defining Self-Care including sleep and exercise
  • Tips and Strategies
Skills taught: Recognition if the Importance of Self-Care, Utilization of Multiple Strategies to Increase Self-Care
Dementia focused, 2 session workshop
 
Focus: Using a Behavioral Chain to identify triggers and reactions to challenging behaviors found in dementia.
 
Sub-topics:
  • Anatomy of Behaviors
  • Defining Challenging Behaviors
  • Recommended Strategies

Skills taught: Ability to identify the three different part of behaviors and apply to challenging behaviors.

Training Cost:

The Optimal Aging Center offers CWC2.0 Suite 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:  10- 2hr sessions over Zoom for up to 8 agency employees 

Trainings also include:

  • One hard copy of the CWC2.0 Suite Facilitator manual per trainee
  • Access to electronic format of power points, and pdfs of handouts
  • Weekly Zoom consultation meetings for 6 months following the training

Training Costs – $10,000 for up to 8 Agency employees

  • 1 Facilitator – 20 hrs @ $200 per hour = $4000
  • 20 hrs prep time @ $200 per hour = $4000
  • 10 hrs admin time @ $200 per hour = $2000

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.

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