This ready-to-teach in-service kit includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Aging Appetite" What we eat is key in maintaining our health, and our needs change as we age. Sometimes it is difficult for the elderly to receive proper nutrition; incontinence, for example, may lead an elder to consume fewer fluids and become dehydrated. It is important to know what food groups and vitamins an elder needs, and to understand how medications and factors of aging can affect taste and the ability to absorb nutrients. Caregivers will learn the following topics:

• Common dietary concerns for the elderly
• Why changes in appetite occur and how to aid an elder who experiences them
• Chronic diseases and how lifestyle choices, such as diet, can impact them
• Foods to delay or inhibit dementia and supporting dementia residents at mealtime
• Healthful foods and what they do

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service kit includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Compassionate Listening Skills" This in-service focuses on an important aspect of person-centered care that is mandated for every nursing home by new CMS regulations: listening. Listening is the basis of all communication, and good listening skills can enhance job and life satisfaction, increase productivity, and strengthen relationships among care staff members, as well as between caregivers and residents. This in-service teaches the following topics:

• The three types of listening: empathetic, critical, and appreciative
• Common barriers to good listening and strategies to overcome them
• How to develop habits of good listening
• What is non-verbal communication?
• How to practice good non-verbal communication through eyes, mouth, facial expression, gestures, posture, and personal space

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
Certificate Template (PDF)

Ageism is a type of discrimination that is formed based on someone’s age. Ageism does not only affect mature adults and elders, but also affects the younger age groups. This in-service will take a look at what ageism is and how it affects the way we see aging. It will also discuss how and why we stereotype each other based on different age groups, and the affects  on our social lives, health and workplace.

This in-service will cover:

1. What ageism is and how it affects the way we see aging
2. How we stereotype each other based on different age groups
3. How ageism affects the workplace, our social lives and health

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Well-Being and Dementia"

Well-being is a subjective indicator of the quality of life, unique to the individual. It points to the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects as the main aspects of human existence, which are closely involved in the development of human beings. Dementia affects every facet of the person including his or her self-perception, status, mental health and faith in God. How does one experience well-being in dementia? Caregivers searching to improve residents’ well-being while living with dementia’s will find information in this in-service valuable:

• Spiritual well-being: What is it and does dementia affect it?
• Psychological well-being and how to keep a sense of self throughout progression of dementia
• Using creativity to achieve well-being:dancing, art, music, and poetry in each of the stages of dementia
• Relationship-based care principles to preserve a sense of self throughout dementia

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Achieving a Work-Life Balance"

Health care professionals often work in a physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing environment, often leading to burnout or caregiver fatigue. These outcomes have an effect not only on the professional lives of those working in health care, but also on their personal lives. Disruptions in routines such as sleeping, eating, or exercising can have damaging effects on our health. Though it is unlikely for health care professionals to escape all stressors associated with their work, it is possible to reduce negative stress by ensuring that it is counter weighted by actions that bring joy and relief.

In this in-service, caregivers will learn:

• The importance of creating balance between ones’ personal and professional lives
• Helpful steps and strategies for achieving work-life balance such as setting boundaries on your time, discussing changes with loved ones, etc.
• Tools employees can use such as the Time Management Matrix and the ADPI Action Plan (additional tool handouts are included)

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) 
• Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Time Management Matrix (PDF)
• ADPI Action Plan (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "The Role of the Family in Person-Centered Care Planning"
A person-centered care plan is a care plan tailored to the resident’s preferences, unique needs, strengths and limitations. A care planning conference is a setting for health care professionals and caregivers to meet with members of a resident's family to learn more about the resident. By learning about the resident's individual characteristics and how the person lived before moving to the long-term care setting, we can better understand the goals to help sustain, maintain, and enhance the resident’s well-being. This will lead to building relationships essential in the development of a plan of care and appropriate interventions and approaches to reach these goals. In this in-service, caregivers will learn the following:

• What a care plan and care plan conference is
• The philosophy, foundation and basic concepts of person-centered care
• What to learn about the resident
• The role of the family and caregiver in person-centered care
• How to guide and interact with family,offering additional resources and handouts that can be used with family
• How to conduct a care plan conference

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)
• Handout "Meaningful Activities for Individuals with Dementia"
• Handout "Activities that Maximize Function"

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Building a Collaborative Work Environment" 
Health care delivery teams working in long-term care settings are often large and diverse, composed of professionals of various ages and who have various educational backgrounds and levels of experience. Though team members have individual roles and responsibilities, they must be able to work together to ensure the highest quality of care is delivered. Working together requires team members to engage in collaborative practices as part of their established work habits. The “Building a Collaborative Work Environment” in-service will lead teams through the steps needed to achieve successful collaboration within the team. Team members will learn the principles and benefits of collaboration, understand how to utilize collaborative actions, and discuss the importance of committing to support a collaborative work environment.
Caregivers will learn:

• Defining collaborative practice and the principles of collaborative culture.
• Benefits of barriers to effective collaboration.
• Actions that promote and support collaboration.

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Recognizing a Bullying Culture"

This 25-minute in-service is helpful for those that would like to discourage a bullying culture in their working environment. Although bullying behavior does occur in many different situations, this in-service is more descriptive of the bullying culture that has been occurring frequently in the nursing field. Not all facilities experience this type of behavior, but unfortunately there are nurses that have experienced awful treatment from fellow nurses. We explain what bullying behaviors are and provide concrete examples along with explaining how bullying behaviors affect the work environment, the quality of resident care and employee fulfillment. There are also triggers and situations that may make someone more susceptible to being treated unfairly and solutions on how to manage and stop the behaviors. Lastly, it is discussed how to discourage and create a bully-free work environment where nurses work collaboratively without intimidation and fear.

This in-service teaches the following topics:

• What constitutes as bullying behavior
• How bullying affects the work environment, the quality of resident care and employee fulfillment
• What situations can be a trigger for bullying behaviors by fellow nurses
• What an individual can do if in a bullying situation
• How to discourage and create a bully-free environment

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Working Effectively as a Team"
This 25-minute in-service addresses the important of collaboration among healthcare staff in the long-term care environment. Understanding the qualities of an effective team is important so the team can provide the best quality of care to their residents. Being aware of the qualities of a dysfunctional team will benefit the team so they know what not to demonstrate in a collaborative working environment to be the most effective as a team and provide excellent care. Teamwork can have many challenges – we will discuss the different obstacles of teamwork and solutions on how to work more collectively. Workstyle differences can be the biggest challenge of working together. Understanding how different everyone on your team works is the key to a successful team.Recognizing and being mindful of the qualities of an effective team player is vital so an individual can continually work on enhancing teamwork skills. Caregivers will learn:

• The signs of an effective team
• The signs of a dysfunctional team
• What can be done to make a dysfunctional team a functional team
• What obstacles make teamwork challenging
• Different work styles
• Qualities of an effective team player

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)

This ready-to-teach in-service package includes all the pieces needed to teach a 25-minute in-service.

In-Service Topic "Pastoral Visiting for Caregivers"
Pastoral visiting involves skills usually taught only to social workers or those involved in spiritual guidance; however, there is something for all caregivers to learn in this in-service. Loneliness is a major contributor to depression, leading to behaviors and reduced quality of life. Compassionate caregivers who have been trained to listen and respond well will greatly enhance resident quality of life and alleviate depression. Caregivers will learn the following topics:

• An exercise in empathy to teach caregivers about emotional pain and loneliness
• What pastoral visiting is, and the difference between pastoral visiting and a social visit
• How any caregiver can bring aspects of pastoral visiting into their work
• How to make an effective pastoral visit to help the resident achieve peace
• What to say in difficult or uncomfortable situations

This in-service kit includes:

• A recorded video of the in-service (internet access required)
• Lesson Plan (PDF) Presentation slides and script (Microsoft PowerPoint File)
• Presentation handout as slides and notes (PDF)
• 4-page summary of presentation (PDF)
• Pre-test (PDF)
• 4 post-tests with 5 questions each and answer key (PDF)
• Follow-up (PDF)
• Certificate Template (PDF)