Competency-based training boosts dementia knowledge and skills in home care workers.

INTRODUCTION: The rising prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in California's aging population necessitates a well-trained dementia care workforce.

METHODS: This study evaluated a multi-week, competency-based, online training for caregivers in California's Medicaid-funded In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. Using a quasi-experimental design, we assessed caregivers' dementia knowledge, self-efficacy, distress, depression, and care recipients' healthcare use before and after the intervention.

RESULTS: The training significantly improved caregivers' dementia knowledge and self-efficacy but did not reduce caregivers' distress and depression, nor decrease care recipients' emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

DISCUSSION: The findings highlight the value of specialized dementia training in enhancing caregiver knowledge and skills, which could be implemented outside California. Clinical implications include bolstering caregiver well-being to improve the quality of their support of care recipients with cognitive impairment. Policy implications include expanding access to training programs and bolstering workforce development initiatives that improve caregiver and care recipient outcomes.

HIGHLIGHTS: Multiweek online training improved home care workers' dementia caregiving skills. Home care workers' dementia knowledge improved significantly post-training. Self-efficacy to manage care recipients' dementia symptoms improved significantly.