Joliet ambulance service receive specialized dementia training

ROMEOVILLE – Medical emergencies in dementia patients come with certain challenges, especially for first responders.

Especially when first responders aren’t aware of any memory issues.

“Those in the community can be good at masking it,” said Tom Johnsrud, executive director of Senior Star at Weber Place, “and especially if they’re a married couple.”

So last year, Senior Star partnered with Daley’s Ambulance Service in Joliet to provide dementia training to 11 percent of its employees. That training is now mandatory for all new employees, according to a news release from Senior Star.

In addition, employees of Bud’s Ambulance Service are also receiving dementia training from Senior Star. Bud’s Ambulance Service is one of Daley’s sister companies, which responds to 911 calls in 13 communities on the south side of Chicago, said Laura Daley, marketing director for Daley’s medical transport.

Daley said 150 paramedics and emergency medical technicians have taken the dementia training. This benefits Senior Star clients (Senior Star calls Daley’s for all medical transportation that is not life-threatening), as well as the seniors in the community Daley’s also serves.

“We would love for this to become a standard for first responders all over the country,” Daley said. “All of my staff receive hours and hours of dementia training before they hit the road. Our goal is to reach out to the police and fire departments, some of which have gone through the virtual dementia tour.”

The Second Wind Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour simulates a realistic, homelike environment. Participants are asked to perform daily living activities in an altered state with artificially impaired senses, which affect their ability to interpret the environment, according to information from Senior Star.

Senior Star typically offers these tours to the community four times a year, sometimes more.

“We’ve probably done virtual dementia tours for 300 people,” Johnsrud said.

Johnsrud said those who take the tour often become quite emotional.

“We’ve had folks stop in the middle of it because they’re becoming so confused and frustrated,” Johnsrud said

The virtual dementia tour is part of the training for Daley’s paramedics and EMTs, Daley said.

As part of the dementia training Anna Walters, a registered nurse, geriatrics expert and health services director at Senior Star, whose own father had Alzheimer’s, also delivers a one to two-hour presentation specific to first responders.

A question-and-answer session follows.

“Our EMTs and paramedics take away so much from that,” Daley said.

Apart from Senior Star’s efforts, Johnsrud said there’s a relatively new movement called “Dementia Friendly America,” which has the goal of educating everyone – including community agencies and organizations – about dementia, not just first responders.

“A few states have really embraced it,” Johnsrud said.

Senior Star is also taking steps to educate the community – not just first responders – about dementia.

For instance on June 1, Walters will present an aging sensitivity program for Chicago Association of REALTORS, which will be a series of one-hour seminars. according to a news release from Senior Star.

The seminar will include “real-life examples, interactive discussions, communication strategies, key terminology” and the virtual dementia tour, the release also said.

Daley said educating the community about dementia ensures “everyone is on the same page” regarding understanding of the disorder.

For the community, dementia awareness might be as simple as knowing the symptoms of dementia and checking in on elderly neighbors from time to time. It’s being aware of the difference between age-related forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s.

“It’s the little signs that people miss that can really be the main things that can save a person’s life,” Daley said.

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KNOW MORE

The Alzheimer’s Association has a list of 10 early symptoms of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. These are

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life

• Challenges in planning or solving problems

• Confusion with time or place

• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

• New problems with words in speaking or writing

• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

• Decreased or poor judgment

• Withdrawal from work or social activities

• Changes in mood or personality

The Alzheimer’s Association also offers “Quick Tips for First Responders,” which includes suggestions when dealing with firearms, wandering, driving incidents, shoplifting, abuse and neglect and safely transporting a dementia patient in times of emergencies and disasters.

The tip sheet is available online at www.alz.org.

For information on Dementia Friendly America, visit www.dfamerica.org.

For information about Senior Star at Weber Place, call 815-439-9955 or visit www.seniorstar.com.