Week 1 Competencies & Reflection

Competencies (1 & 2)

1.1 Plan Assessment

1.1.1 Define the purpose and scope of the assessment.

1.1.3 Identify existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions.

1.1.5 Recruit and/or engage priority population(s), partners, and stakeholders to participate throughout all steps in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation processes.

Summary: I spent time with my supervisor planning how I would approach changing and updating the care guide project (1.1.1). We established that the care guide needed a refreshed look but also updated information and resources available for dementia/Alzheimer’s caregivers by comparing the care guide with other resource handouts (1.1.3). At the support group meeting, my supervisor and I made caregivers and other partners aware of the project and prompted them to give feedback and hold meetings with me to discuss changes and updates they want to see in the care guide (1.1.5).

1.4 Synthesize assessment findings to inform the planning process

1.4.1 Compare findings to norms, existing data, and other information.

1.4.2 Prioritize health education and promotion needs.

1.4.4 Develop recommendations based on findings.

Summary: I compared the original care guide to other existing care guides about dementia and Alzheimer’s to have an understanding of what information is regarded as important to know for the care guide. (1.4.1) Many of the care guides included checklists for caregivers, as well as medication trackers, conversation prompts, and resource guides (1.4.2). I used these comparisons to develop my own recommendations for the improve care guide (1.4.4).

2.1 Engage priority populations, partners, and stakeholders for participation in the planning process.

2.1.1 Convene priority populations, partners, and stakeholders.

2.1.3 Establish the rationale for the intervention.

Summary: At the support group meeting, I made sure to introduce myself and my project to engage the priority population (caregivers of those with dementia) and partners (those that work at the CARE Center) to take part in giving feedback and suggestions for the care guide (2.1.1). I also explained to them that my internship focuses on following the HESPA II Competencies in health education to better the CARE Center and community in their needs for caregiver and dementia care (2.1.3).

Reflection: What, So What, Now What?

My first week at the CARE Center gave me an amazing perspective of the work and effort that it takes to be an educator, a caregiver, a doctor, and an intern focused on dementia and Alzheimer’s care. I found that even in one day of reviewing dementia care guides, there is so much complex information that it makes it difficult to “exclude” anything from a care guide. I enjoyed getting to discuss this project with my supervisor and other partners as they expressed the need for an updated care guide that would be helpful for themselves and the community. After sitting in on the support group meeting, it widened my perspective on the needs, wants, questions, and concerns of caregivers which helped me to understand what could be included in the care guide. I am looking forward to working with even more partners and stakeholders in the coming weeks and am very excited for the outcome of my work.