Life Care Services Communities Share Expertise in New Spanish Version of ALZ Training Videos

Three Life Care Services managed senior living communities were featured in a new and expanded version of the Alzheimer’s Association’s essentiALZ® Training and Certification program that features Spanish-language content. Launched in 2020, the program is aimed at educating professional care providers in long-term and community-based care settings — such as nursing homes, assisted living and home care — on current evidence-based, person-centered practices to care for people living with dementia.

“These new materials will ensure language is not a barrier to access to quality dementia care and education,” said Sharon Maguire, LCS SVP/Chief Health and Wellness Officer.  “I am thrilled the experts in our communities could share their experiences and expertise to make this a valuable new tool for providers and caregivers.”

Maguire and colleague Doug Oliver, LCS Senior Director of Community Experience, serve as members of the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Providers Roundtable, with Maguire serving as the current vice chair of the group. Maguire serves on the LCS Foundation as a Board Member and Chairs the Foundation's Alzheimer's Committee. 

The essentiALZ program offers an opportunity for professional care providers to receive high-quality care training and certification based on the nationally recognized Dementia Care Practice Recommendations, a set of evidence-based, person-centered dementia care practices to define quality care across all care settings and throughout the course of the disease. Since its launch, more than 9,200 professional care providers have completed the training and certification program.

The new Spanish-language materials include videos of Spanish-speaking professional care providers discussing how they apply person-centered care approaches in their settings. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 7 professional health care providers is Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). According to the 2020 Profile of Hispanic Americans Age 65 and Older report, the Hispanic population is projected to comprise 21% of the older population by 2060.

Life Care Services managed communities and individuals featured in the video include:

The Forum at Rancho San Antonio - Stephanie Sanchez, Life Enrichment Coordinator

The Sterling Aventura - Ana Perez, Assistant Director of Health Services

Sedgebrook - Karla Alcantar, Scheduler

“Not only are Hispanic individuals at greater risk for dementia, but Hispanics make up a sizable proportion of the professional care provider workforce,” said Emily Shubeck, Director, Quality Care, Alzheimer’s Association. “These new materials address a critical need in the ongoing efforts by the Alzheimer’s Association to ensure all communities have access to high-quality, person-centered dementia care.”

For more information, visit: essentiALZ — Alzheimer’s Association Training and Certification.