WITC-Superior offering FREE Alzheimer’s and Dementia course
In partnership with the WITC Foundation and the Caregiver Coalition of Douglas County, the Gerontology-Aging Services Professional program at WITC-Superior is offering the course Alzheimer’s and Dementia with free tuition and books to qualifying individuals as part of the Dementia-Friendly Douglas County initiative.
The free, three-credit course is generously supported by the WITC-Superior BNSF Student Support Fund. The WITC-Superior BNSF Student Support Fund was created in 2016 when the WITC Foundation, UW-Superior Foundation and the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation each received upwards of $400,000 that had been held in trust following the 1992 train derailment in Superior that caused a benzene spill. The spill forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate the Twin Ports. WITC’s share of the settlement is invested directly into student support including programming, emergency assistance and the Alzheimer’s and Dementia course.
There is limited availability to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia course and the deadline to apply is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, June 17, 2019 with preference given to individuals residing or employed in Douglas County. The combination of online and in-person coursework goes from August 27 – October 18, 2019. The Alzheimer’s and Dementia course explores the signs, symptoms and stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and how these diseases affect physiology and brain function. This course focuses on the principles of communication and providing care to individuals with memory loss and confusion; it also addresses best practices for working with behavior changes, challenges with activities of daily living and strategies to assist caregivers.
Some of the course highlights include:
- Experiencing the Virtual Dementia tour
- Interacting with local and national content experts
- Exploring real world content and application
- Collaborating and networking with others who are passionate about dementia-friendly communities.
To learn more or obtain an application, contact Jennifer Ellis, Gerontology-Aging Services Professional instructor. 715.394.6677 ext. 6346 or Jennifer.ellis@witc.edu
