Educational and Leadership
Development Programs

Staff in nursing homes have identified education as the best method for learning how to respond to the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Distress (BPSD) in people experiencing these symptoms. Education is essential for implementing evidence-based practice and for promoting person-centered care. In this section of the Toolkit, staff educational programs that address use of non-pharmacological approaches, reduction of antipsychotic medication use in the nursing home, general dementia care education when it includes either of the above, and leadership development for professional staff are identified. These latter programs were included because nursing homes currently lack the strong nursing leadership necessary to implement change in practice. Some of the leadership development programs are specific to the nursing home environment, while others target leadership skill-building in general. For all programs, those that are easily accessible to facilities were selected; where there is a cost for the program, this information is provided.

Four databases are associated with this section of the Toolkit: