GAST Training Catalog
Geriatric and Adult Specialty Team Training
Partners’ Geriatric and Adult Specialty Team (GAST) is charged with increasing the community’s knowledge and understanding of mental health and substance use issues facing older adults. The team of registered nurses, licensed clinicians, and mental health professionals host educational events and teach training sessions for staff in community agencies and organizations, care facilities and treatment programs, and family caregivers. GAST is accredited by the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulations for continuing education credits
GAST offers training on many geriatric-related topics, including:
- Assisting the Person with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
- Respectful Communication with Dementia and Mental Illness
- Understanding How Alzheimer’s Changes People
- Behavioral Intervention and Crisis Planning
- Dealing with Difficult Behaviors in a Care Setting
- Depression in the Elderly
- Elder Substance Abuse and Use
- End of Life and Mental Illness
- Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness in Older Adults
- Respecting the Rights of Persons with Mental Illness through Improved Communication
- Plus – medication courses for long term care facilities
To schedule a training session, please email Stephanie Ingle.
NEW! GAST On-Demand Training
Partners’ GAST has developed a series of “on-demand” trainings that focus on the impacts of stress and isolation which you can fit into your schedule at the time that works best for you. Each training is approximately one hour. PDFs are available for each associated training.
Coping Skills: Taking Care of Yourself in Times of Stress
This training helps you understand what coping skills are and how they can help reduce stress. You will learn positive coping strategies to deal with stress and overwhelming emotions. By the end of the training, you should better understand how to use positive self-talk to change feelings and cope with anxiety.
Caregiver Stress and COVID-19
Caring for elderly family or friends can be stressful, especially during a pandemic. In this course, you will learn ways to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. You will also learn that there are steps you can take to reduce the stress and challenges that occur when a person with dementia’s daily life and routine are disrupted. This course discusses the importance of social connections and provides ideas for activities to keep elderly loved ones engaged and thriving.
COVID-19 and Anxiety in the Elderly
Nearly 30% of adults have anxiety at some point in their lives. When entire countries shut down due to a pandemic, it can be frightening. All of us are wondering, “What is going to happen next?” For many people, the uncertainty is the hardest thing. All of this makes it easy to catastrophize and spiral into overwhelming panic. In this course, you will learn you can manage anxiety and fears. Participants will learn different types of anxiety, the possible impacts of COVID-19 on elderly, and available treatments and coping skills.
Dementia Basics and COVID-19
This training goes beyond learning the basics of dementia and offers tips on dealing with dementia during the COVID-19 crisis. You will learn the definition of dementia, the common forms, and tips that will help you communicate with people with dementia. Common behaviors are discussed as well as prevention and treatment options.
Social Isolation in the Elderly
While social isolation in the elderly is always a concern, it is even more so as people are staying at home due to COVID-19. This training teaches the difference between isolation and loneliness. This training will help you recognize the risks of isolation in the elderly and how to help reduce those risks.
Stress Response & Self-Care
Taking care of ourselves is always important. During stressful, uncertain times it is imperative. This training will teach you how to recognize the symptoms of stress and the physical effects and will provide tips to help you manage stress, including relaxation techniques.