HHC transitional care nurses certified as dementia practitioners

SOUTHINGTON – Three transitional care nurses with Hartford HealthCare at Home who work in tandem with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging were recently designated Certified Dementia Practitioners by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. This credential is the highest standard in Alzheimer’s and dementia education.

The transitional care nurses are Nicholas Arsenault, MSN, RN, CCM, CDP, of Windsor; Kaitlin Cuas, RN, MSN, CDP, of Newington; and Lillian Swan, RN-BC, BSN, CDP, of Southington. Among their roles are conducting home physical assessments and safety evaluations to connect with outside resources, engaging the client, family members, caregivers and health care providers. With years of experience in the health care field, they hold multiple professional certifications, have presented at numerous events, and have completed specialized training. The three nurses are based in the Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging office at Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Memorial campus, 81 Meriden Ave.

The goal of the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners is to develop and encourage comprehensive standards of excellence in direct-care skills, education and sensitivity in dementia care. Certification confirms that the individual has extensive experience and has pursued continuing education, staying current with trends, regulations and new developments related to dementia. The certification process includes training in key aspects of dementia care including communication techniques, disruptive behaviors interventions, and tools for addressing concerns such as wandering, aggressive behaviors and more.

Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services, is a resource and assessment center designed to enhance access to services and information related to attaining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. The Center for Healthy Aging has nine locations: Bloomfield, Hartford, Meriden, New Britain, Newington, Southington (two), Vernon and Willimantic. Hartford HealthCare at Home is a community-based home health care agency across most of Connecticut, which enables individuals to achieve maximum independence, to participate in their own plan of care, and to live with dignity while receiving quality care in their own homes.

For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, call 1.877.424.4641 or visit http://hhccenterforhealthyaging.org. For more information about Hartford HealthCare at Home, call 1.800.466.3227 or visit https://hartfordhealthcareathome.org.