Staff Members at State Veterans Home Receive CARES Certification

Some reinforcements have arrived for the 1,300 Texans who care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Thirty-nine staff members of the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home in Temple were honored as graduates of the CARES Dementia Certification program on February 21. The program is provided by HealthCare Interactive, a company which specializes in dementia, memory loss and Alzheimer’s Disease education. CARES is an acronym for “Connect with the person, Assess behavior, Respond appropriately, Evaluate what works, and Share with others.”

“The number of Central Texans living with dementia grows each day, and we’re grateful to those stepping up to the plate to care for them,” said Sue Nelson, On-Site Representative for the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home and its overseeing agency, the Texas Veterans Land Board. “It was very touching. As each certified staff member received their certificate they shared a brief personal story.”

The Courtney State Veterans Home maintains a separate, state-of-the-art facility specifically for patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementia — with room for up to thirty-two residents. The CARES Dementia Advanced Care education program trains staff to know exactly how to keep a resident from wandering away, or what to do when a resident falls or complains of recurring pain, among other topics.

An estimated 340,000 Texans have Alzheimer’s disease, and many more live with dementia from other causes. There are around 1,300 caregivers in Texas who specialize in caring for persons living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia, according to the national Alzheimer’s Association.

If you have questions about this program please contact Sue Nelson at 254–791–8280 or sue.nelson@glo.texas.gov.

For more information about any of the eight State Veterans Homes in Texas, please visit TexasVeterans.com.