Relationship Enhancement Training Program

The Relationship Enhancement training program was developed after 10 years of academic research and 20 years of direct care working as a personal support worker with a variety of different people in both home support and long-term care who had a cognitive impairment.

In addition to published research, I spoke with other experts including a retired clinical psychologist in Fredericton NB in 2016. She offered me an essential piece of information that guided me through the process of building enhanced relationships with clients I supported.

Around her kitchen table, over coffee, Ann Kennedy listened carefully to my concerns and the inconsistencies I found between the research then, and my work in home support. Ann was able to see beyond the stigma of cognitive impairment to the person and their support worker who were both trying to cope – sometimes successfully, sometimes not – with challenging circumstances. “Let them have the disease,” she told me gently. “Let go of control.”

Today, while we might not all agree that cognitive impairment is a disease, Ann’s advice was invaluable. I learned to take a step back and allow clients the time and space they needed to figure out how to do things differently on their own. I was also guided by the words of another well-educated Canadian east coast woman, Olive Bryantan, to support older people in what they can’t do.

Both women offered me a practical way forward that allowed me to develop relationships with clients.

I found great information from authors such as Peter J. Whitehouse who promoted personal narrative and growth, identity and adapting to difficult circumstances and Claudia J. Strauss who offered the insight that feelings remain intact despite the presence of dementia and the concept of balance – “the good feelings are enhanced and the bad ones are diminished.” (p.16)

I used the knowledge I gained from Kennedy, Bryantan, Whitehouse and Strauss to develop the Relationship Enhancement Approach to Supportive Care. Then, I created the program courses.

I incorporated work from respected authors such as Kay Lindahl who specializes in listening skills and Stuart Brown, M.D. who specializes in play. A book written by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, gave me a deeper understanding of the fear and anger voiced by those who expressed concerning behaviours. Psychiatrists David Goldbloom and Pier Bryden helped me appreciate the importance of maintaining identity, trust, hope and professionalism in their book, How Can I Help?

Special thanks to Marilyn Noble, B.A., B.F.A., M.Ed. and Ella Allen, Lecturer, in English Language and Literature at St. Thomas University. Marilyn offered her expertise in adult education and named the experience of my work “Relationship Enhancement”. Ella edited my first course, Responding to Short-term Memory Loss, providing much needed structure to the content and compassion in the words.

A complete list of references used in each course, is provided at the end of each course.

Research also addressed issues in a supportive relationship both often struggle with: identity, trust and empathy.

Innovative and sustainable, this training program offers both in a supportive relationship, the knowledge and skills needed to:

Take control of their circumstances
Understand and respond to uncertainty
Create stability in their life, and
Develop self-control

Courses are written primarily for people recently diagnosed with dementia, but also offer a deeper understanding of the experience of cognitive impairment for those who offer them support.

Both in a supportive relationship will find valuable, practical information to reduce stress and isolation, build trust, and continue to enjoy an active, meaningful life while discovering how similar they are, despite their differences.

Relationship Enhancement Training Courses

It is best if both in a supportive relationship take the courses together, but it’s not necessary.

Courses are offered online and divided into lessons so you can take in new information and apply it at your own pace.

Single Issue Courses

Responding to Short-Term Memory Loss

Short-term memory loss is unpredictable and often occurs frequently throughout the day. It can leave you and those around you feeling increasingly stressed and isolated, but for different reasons. This course speaks to two very different experiences of cognitive impairment – the experience of someone who has a cognitive impairment and the experience of those who offer them support.

The course begins with a comprehensive look at short-term memory and short-term memory loss, providing skills and techniques that apply the Relationship Enhancement Approach to Supportive Care to common, everyday situations. This is followed by a more detailed look at the role of each person in an enhanced relationship. And the course concludes with a technique to communicate better with someone when they experience short-term memory loss.

Release Date: Coming soon!

Cost: TBD

Additional short courses available in future.

Coming soon!

Full Courses

Maintaining Your Identity

Release Date: TBD

Cost: TBD

Changing Your Identity

Release Date: TBD

Cost: TBD

Additional full courses will be scheduled when available.

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Our first single issue course, Responding to Short-term Memory Loss, will be available soon!

"Though much is taken, much abides"

- from Ulysses by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

You can read Tennyson's poem by clicking on the button below.

Ulysses

References

Olive Bryanton, Ph.D., CBC Docs POV, Never Too Old: Making Older Women More Visible, August 8, 2019