Friends Village at Woodstown, NJ is offering free training in nonverbal communication to caregivers of people with dementia in Salem, NJ.
I will be training care partners in nonverbal communication to recognize and understand the meaning of body language and facial expressions in themselves as well as others. People with advanced dementia rely heavily on nonverbal communication because the meeting of their needs and their emotional safety depend on it. People with dementia are sensitive to approval and disapproval, support, nurturance, rejection and abandonment through tone of voice, facial expression, gesture, posture, etc.. Because our movement patterns are outside our awareness and so deeply ingrained, it takes repeated exposure to become aware and to adapt these habitual patterns. This training will help care partners focus more on relationship and less on tasks.
Training will be provided through engaging in experiential structures, role play, discussion and lecture. Trainees will be participant observers in a dance movement therapy group with people with dementia once each month.
There will be 4 classes. Groups of 8 participants each will meet for a total of 20 hours over a 6 month period. Classes will begin in February, March and April.
This program is free for residents of Salem County, NJ. Funding is provided in part by a grant from the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation.
For information, contact Patience Oakes at (856) 823-0242 or email her at poakes@fhaw.org.
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