HealthCare Interactive’s CARES® Serious Mental Illness™ Online Training Program focuses on how caregivers can develop care strategies for those with serious mental illness and how it differs from dementia. The program does a deep dive into schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, major depression, PTSD, borderline personality, and general psychosis, and provides helpful strategies for caring for people living with a serious mental illness to become their best selves.

For many years, CMS has led a national effort to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications, especially for people living with dementia, but there are appropriate uses of antipsychotics. By definition, antipsychotics are designed to help people with serious mental illnesses such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. As such, caregivers supporting patients, residents, or loved ones with both dementia and serious mental illness need a balance of care strategies and medical treatments.

AHCA/NCAL supports the CARES training approach as part of its commitment to reduce the off-label use of antipsychotics. AHCA/NCAL members can save 15% on this serious mental illness training and certification for staff members by using promo code AHCA15 at check out. 

The online training includes engaging content, interactive activities, case studies, and numerous real-life videos (no actors) of actual staff, experts, families, and people living with dementia and serious mental illness. CARES Serious Mental Illness Online Training and Certification includes four modules: 

• Introduction to Serious Mental Illness 
• Understanding Serious Mental Illness
• Living with Serious Mental Illness
• The CARES Approach for Providing Appropriate Care 

View this four-minute video training preview to learn more about this training. Remember to use promo code AHCA15 at check out and save 15 percent off any individual registration or site license for any of the outstanding CARES online trainings. Contact HealthCare Interactive at (952) 928-7722 for more information.