Hintz and Wilcox Earn Positive Approach to Care® Certified Independent Trainer Status

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Dementia isn’t a disease. It is a symptom of progressive brain disorders that affect cognitive function. There are 6.5 million Americans (65 and over) living with the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease. Every 65 seconds, one person in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease¹. By 2060, up to 13.8 million will have the disease.²

Characterized by memory loss and a cognitive decline that interferes with daily life, dementia progressively weakens a person’s thought and processing ability; ultimately causing drastic changes in mood, memory, and behavior. Family members caring for a spouse, parent or other loved one with dementia are at high risk for depression and anxiety, making it difficult or impossible to care for the person affected by dementia.

Nationally-recognized dementia educator and trainer, Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA has helped thousands of people by sharing her dementia care philosophy and caregiving techniques. In addition to her work as an Occupational Therapist and 30 years of experience in geriatrics, Snow served as the Director of Education and Lead Trainer for the Eastern N.C. Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and as a clinical associate professor at UNC’s School of Medicine, Program on Aging. Snow is an advocate for those living with dementia and has made it her personal mission to help families and professionals better understand how it feels to be living with such challenges and change. Her teaching style integrates facts about the brain and what happens to someone when doing, thinking, reasoning, or processing becomes difficult. Learn more – Positive Approach to Care (teepasnow.com).

Lori Hintz, RN, CDP, CADDCT, and Susan Wilcox, RN, Quality Improvement Advisors for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care and Great Plains Quality Innovation Network, recently earned their Positive Approach to Care® (PAC™) Independent Trainer Certifications. Hintz and Wilcox have demonstrated the ability to train others in Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care® philosophy … teaching awareness, knowledge and skill development in a classroom, community, or support group setting. This experiential and interactive course provides dementia awareness and knowledge, an in-depth look into various learning styles, and facilitation techniques that engage learners. Certification requirements include 6 hours of online training, an 8-hour classroom learning course and post-training follow-up.

“I am very appreciative to be invited by the SD Department of Human Services / Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to participate in this statewide dementia training project specifically for long-term care facilities. Having worked with nursing homes across South Dakota over the past 13 years, I am fully aware of not only the challenges, but also the rewards that caregivers receive when caring for someone living with dementia. This training offers practical tips that a caregiver can use right away to better understand and care for the person living with dementia and brain changes. I look forward to sharing this information with my nursing home colleagues.” ~ Lori Hintz, RN, CDP, CADDCT.

“Teepa Snow’s PAC™ certification empowers me to advocate for individuals with dementia. I am grateful to the SD Department of Human Services/Long Term Care Ombudsman Program for providing the opportunity to enhance my skills. I’ve experienced the effects of dementia firsthand as a caregiver for a family member and spent over 15 years working in dementia care units across SD. I’m eager to share my knowledge and will use this expertise to make a meaningful difference, promoting dignity and quality of life for both individuals and their families.” ~ Susan Wilcox, RN.

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