Gentle Persuasive Approaches Basics (GPA)

​Did you know?..

There is a recognized need to promote a better understanding of dementia among care providers. A series of training needs assessments conducted by SafeCare BC in 2014, 2015, and 2016 identified an overwhelming demand for dementia care training among continuing care providers. Care providers reported having a lack of training when it came to understanding dementia and how best to provide care.

Course Description:

Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) is case-based, interactive, and practical. GPA re-frames challenging behaviour to be interpreted as self-protective or responsive behaviour occurring because of unmet needs, encouraging staff to assess the meaning behind behaviour and work alongside the person with dementia. GPA uses a person-centered, compassionate and gentle persuasive approach to respond respectfully and with confidence and skill to behaviors associated with dementia. 

The course is delivered as a one-day workshop, involving multiple educational strategies to meet the various learning styles of point of care staff. Course content is implemented via role plays, whiteboard animations, didactic mini-lectures, experiential exercises, case studies, and video clips. It is the intent of the curriculum to be delivered by in-house GPA Certified Coaches so that participants can continue to be coached in their application of key competencies at the point-of-care. The project’s interdisciplinary curriculum development team designed this literature-based product and evaluated its effectiveness by measuring impact on participants’ self-perceived competency, knowledge acquisition and clinical application. (source: AGE website)

​Goals of Training:

  • Understand that a person with dementia is a unique human being capable of interacting with the outside world
  • Explain the relationship between the disease process and the person’s behavioural response
  • Apply emotional, environmental, and interpersonal communication strategies to prevent and diffuse responsive behaviours
  • Demonstrate suitable and respectful techniques to use in situations of risk

Prerequisites:

GPA is designed for staff and students of all disciplines working with older adults who meet the following criteria:

  • 18+ years of age
  • Enrolled in/have graduated from an allied health care program at a recognized educational institution in Canada, and;
  • Currently working for/seeking employment in dementia care or a related field.

*Please note: volunteers and family members are not eligible to take GPA.

​Cost:

$35 – SafeCare BC members

$100 - Non-SafeCare BC Members (please contact marjahn@safecarebc.ca to register)

Contact:

If you have any questions regarding this or any other SafeCare BC workshops, please contact Marjahn at marjahn@safecarebc.ca.

Gentle Persuasive Approaches Basics (GPA)

  • Thursday May 31 2018, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
  • 1424-4710 Kingsway
    Burnaby, British Columbia
    Canada
    V5H 4M2