October 17, 2016

Next month, Mesalands Community College will be offering an “Approaching Alzheimer’s” course that is designed to raise awareness and teach first responders proper techniques on how to handle calls dealing with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. During this course, students will participate in a virtual dementia tour to experience what it is like for individuals suffering from this disease. Other topics that will be covered in this course include: Defining and Recognizing Signs of Mental Illness, Preparation for Mental Illness Encounters, Effective Communication, Expanding Resources, and Systematic Thinking. This one-credit course will be offered on Friday, November 4, 2016 and Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 8:00 am-5:00 pm at the Mesalands campus. The registration fee for this course is $95.

This course will be taught by Terrence Sommers, who is the lead instructor for the Alzheimer’s Association’s First Responder Training Program that focuses on teaching dispatchers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and Emergency Medical Technician’s (EMT) proper techniques for recognizing and responding to someone that may have Alzheimer’s or another mental condition.

Before the start of this course, students are required to complete the “Recognizing the 10 Warning signs of Alzheimer’s” pre-assessment program online at alz.org.

Limited spaces are available for this course. Students are encouraged to register now.

For more information, please contact the Academic Affairs Office at Mesalands Community College at (575) 461-4413, ext. 114.