Investing in the Dementia Caregivers of Tomorrow
Established in 2021
We partner with local high school occupational health education programs, nursing facilities and industry professionals to educate high school students in the essential elements of caring for patients with dementia.
Memory Caregiver Academy of Austin (MCAAustin) seeks to improve the overall quality of services to people with dementia in the Austin area by expanding the number of caregivers appropriately trained in the special needs of dementia patients.
Students participating in our programs are provided classroom instruction along with clinical experiences in actual memory care facilities. We strive to give our students the necessary knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, competent and respectful care.
MCAAustin Curriculum Highlights
- Introduction to dementia care
- The science of dementia
- Communicating with a person with dementia
- Safety in dementia care
- Clients’ rights and abuse prevention
- Addressing dementia related behaviors in activities of daily living
- Addressing agitation and aggression in dementia care
- End of life dementia care
- Therapeutic enhancements such as music therapy, art therapy and pet therapy
Importance of Dementia Caregiving
More than 6 MILLION Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 MILLION. This is due, in part, to the large “Baby Boomer” generation (people born 1946-1964) approaching their 70s, 80s and 90s. This significant generation of people will require many excellent caregivers over the next few decades.
Mission
Memory Caregiver Academy of Austin (MCAAustin) strives to identify and expertly train qualified, competent, and compassionate caregivers for elderly people with dementia, helping them to age in place.
Additionally, MCAAustin strives to improve the quality of services to people with dementia living in Austin, especially in low-income and underserved areas of town. People living in these areas are given first priority, primarily those who are trying to stay in their own homes.
Values
People with dementia benefit from professional caregivers of diverse backgrounds who have been expertly trained specifically in dementia care. These trained caregivers offer compassionate, competent, and respectful care. They are dependable, honest, trustworthy, responsible, inclusive, and courageous.
People with dementia should not be defined by their diagnosis. People with dementia, regardless of socioeconomic status, have the right to continue with day-to-day life in this community with affordable caregiving options.
Importance of Dementia Caregiving
More than 6 MILLION Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number is projected to rise to nearly 13 MILLION. This is due, in part, to the large “Baby Boomer” generation (people born 1946-1964) approaching their 70s, 80s, and 90s. This significant generation of people will require many excellent caregivers over the next few decades.