1. U n i v e r s i t y o f O k l a h o m a H e a l t h S c i e n c e s C e n t e r
2014
TRAINING NEEDS
ASSESSMENT REPORT
From The Frontline: Communicating with
Patients with Dementia
Jeanene L. Lindsey, B.S. Gerontology
Oklahoma Geriatric Education Center

2. Communicating with Patients with Dementia Page 1
Executive Summary
This report summarizes the importance of training for those that work with patients with dementias.
The knowledge, confidence and attitudes of the participants were measured prior to training and after
the training.
There was a 70% increase in the participant knowledge on communicating with patients with dementia.
The participants learned how important non-verbal communication and body language are and how to
be cognizant of their attitude toward caring for a patient with dementia.
There was a 73% increase in the participant attitudes toward understanding how to communicate with
patients with dementia. The participants understood how important it is to operate in the reality of the
person and not to use the word “remember”.
There was a 71% increase in the participant confidence to express empathy and reduce agitation in
patients with dementia with non-verbal communication. The participants understood that it’s
important to feel confident in their approach and communicate that with non-verbal language.
The graph indicated that participants had a measurable increase in knowledge after the training.
The data shows that there is an existing need for more training on dementia related topics within Quail
Ridge Assisted Living. I recommend that the development of standardized set trainings on the topics of
communication, dementia care and depression be presented in future directed in-services.
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Participant Evaluations
Prior Post

3. Communicating with Patients with Dementia Page 2
Title: From the Frontline: Communicating with Patients with Dementia
Knowledge: 70% Increase in knowledge
1. Why a person with dementia might need a different approach to care then a person without
dementia.
2. How important non-verbal communication can be when working with a person with dementia.
Attitudes: 73% Increase in attitudes toward patients with dementias
1. Your ability to operate within the reality of a person with dementia.
2. Describe how to successfully communicate with a person with dementia.
Confidence: 71% Increase in confidence
1. Your ability to express patience and empathy in the care of a person with dementia.
2. Your ability to reduce agitation in a person with dementia by using non-verbal communication.
Participant Reflections:
 “Talking to patients and comforting them is one of the biggest priorities”
 “Don’t use remember”
 “How important non-verbal communication is”
 “To be reassuring of the patient”
Date: December 4, 2014
Location: Omitted
Type: Directed in-service
Length: 30 minutes (15 minutes of video followed by 15 minutes of facilitated discussion)
Number of Participants: 18
Number of evaluations completed: 10
The evidence suggest that your team at ______ Assisted Living is open to understanding more
about communication, caring for those with dementias and improving their individual skills as a
healthcare professional. I recommend directed in-service training that is evaluated for
effectiveness. I recommend that the training be solution focused and not lecture focused.
Teach what can be immediately applied and what will motivate the person providing the care.
I will follow-up with the team at _______ Assisted Living in Mid-January 2015 to collect tertiary
educational data to see if this training effectively translated into positive patient outcomes. I
look forward to hearing the staff’s testimonials and reflections.
Thank you for your time and for allowing me to share my passion for geriatric education.
Jeanene L. Lindsey, B.S. Gerontology