Free Online Respite Care Training Offered

Online, January 21, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Respite Care Association of Wisconsin, in partnership with Easter Seals Wisconsin, has developed a free online training for respite care providers or those who would like to become care providers. The hope is to create a “Caring Network” of highly trained respite care providers who will have the required skills to provide in-home respite care for individuals with a variety of disabilities.

The ultimate goal of the training is to address the shortage of qualified in-home respite care providers in Wisconsin, and expand an online referral source for families and caregivers to access these trained providers in their communities.

“We found that many people struggle with finding qualified, trained respite care providers who will have the required skills to provide in-home respite care for individuals with a variety of disabilities, including highly challenging behaviors, and basic medical and personal care needs,” stated Jim Schroeder, Executive Director for Respite Care Association of Wisconsin. “To be on the database, the provider must have completed the online training and go through a background check.”

The comprehensive online course is designed for people providing care to individuals of varying disabilities and ages. The course covers: Disability Basics, Lifts & Transfers, Personal Care/Daily Living Skills, Medication Administration, Communication Techniques, Abuse and Neglect, Caring for Challenging Behaviors, Free Time Activities, and Making Connections (meeting/training with the family).

With the training being online, participants are able to work at their own pace, with the ability to start and stop the modules as they go. The online training course makes use of videos, worksheets and quizzes to test the knowledge of participants. Upon successful completion of the online course, the participants will receive a certificate and be offered the opportunity to be added to an online respite care provider registry.

 To sign up for the free online course or to learn more please visit www.respitecarewi.org or call
(608) 222-2033.

This programs is supported by the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Lifespan Respite Care Program, Project #90LR0022/01