My name is Violeta Koppensteiner. In March, I had the pleasure of guiding 10 enthusiastic participants to becoming Level 3, Presenters inAustria.
In 2025, we have set ourselves the goal of continuing to support these dedicated presenters in their development and preparing them for future challenges. Some are already beginning co-training with me in a Level 1 course this year. I look forward to the next steps and to implementing exciting projects together with our new presenters! We are well-positioned to cover the various areas where validation is required.
In Austria, there has been a significant demand for Validation training in recent years. Institutions, nursing and care training programmes, family counselling, children’s and youth projects, and “dementia-friendly cities” want to learn about the method and study it more thoroughly. Validation is strongly embedded in Austrian health and care law. There are requirements for multi-professional groups that must complete a certain number of hours in their field. The demand is rising, especially in the acute care sector. For trainers, this means gaining specialist knowledge in these varied areas to address the specific focal points and their questions. Topics such as the increasing care of geriatric psychiatric patients or younger people with dementia are becoming more prominent. Here, Naomi Feil’s life’s work can serve as a foundation for developing care approaches. In Austria, there is a popular saying: “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel” – therefore, the method that has been developed over many years can be incorporated in a specific and contemporary way.
Personally, it’s important to stay open and offer support so that people can be helped in their current circumstances. Especially in cases that do not always involve disoriented elderly individuals in the process of coming to terms with their past, caregivers and support staff seek advice and assistance. Validation Principles 5 and 6 assist me with this: when caregivers understand behaviour and its underlying needs, it becomes much easier to implement empathetic and professional approaches. It is also useful to assess individually which aspects of Validation might still be suitable to establish a strong foundation for everyday care.
In my training courses, I aim to foster courage and joy in engaging with and communicating with people. More lightness and less rigid concepts are needed to navigate complex encounters and support. Especially in nursing and caregiving, a positive attitude is vital to maintaining one’s own balance.
At the same time, it is crucial for trainers to give Validation the space it requires. The elderly person, with their focus on the stage of resolution, must not be pushed into the background in the current development of the care sector.
No matter how quickly time passes or how rapidly AI may assist us in everyday life, we should endeavor to accomplish our life tasks. In old age, challenges such as loss, the need for understanding, and often past traumas become prominent. During this phase, it is vital for disoriented individuals to have others around them who can understand their language and experiences. Human care and empathy are essential for experiencing and upholding dignity, connectedness, and security in old age.
Many of these topics connect Validation practitioners, group leaders, teachers, and masters worldwide. That is why I am very much looking forward to the coming year, when we will host a symposium and an international Validation teachers’ meeting in Austria. This international exchange offers Presenters, Teachers, Masters and AVOs a valuable opportunity to further develop their expertise.