By: Nazmul Noyim, Follow South Jersey Intern
SOUTH JERSEY- New Jersey Division of Labor ( NJDOL) Apprenticeship is providing Home Health Aides training for dementia care.
Amanda Ruiz-Taveras, a certified Dementia Practitioner was able to help a 85-year-old man, father of Jonathon Sym, a Navy Officer. The care-giver is one of seven Home Health Aides that completed a 12-month training offered by Home Instead, which provides care for the elderly, chronically ill, Alzhiemers and Dementia clients.
“She completely changed our lives,” said Sym. “She gave us back our father. She made him laugh again.”
The Registered Apprenticeship in dementia care is funded by Growing Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) grant. Home Instead, a part of Baron-Queen Ince, which recently received $600,000 for 60 hired apprentices.
“We have shown through the dementia care Apprenticeship, workers can advance their careers through the earn-as-you-learn model,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, who attended the ceremony for newly certified practitioners. “Apprenticeship continues to be a huge win for our state, especially in recovering from the pandemic.”
“Currently New Jersey has a tremendous void in Certified Health Home Aides trained to care for individuals with Alzhiemers and other dementias. Funding from the GAINS grat has helped our company to support employees to better care for clients,” said Chris Capobianco, Director of Employee Training and Retention for Home Instead. “Certified Dementia Practitioner certification gives Home Health Aides the proper skills to care for dementia clients.”
Roughly $28 million has been invested in Apprenticeship grants since 2019, and continues to be a hallmark of Gov. Murphy’s administration.
For more information on NJDOL Apprenticeship opportunities visit apprenticeship.nj.gov.
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