Validation Training Institute

Naomi Feil, the founder of the Validation method, taught us to cross the street and accompany older adults instead of leading them, to use empathy to enter into their worlds rather than use reality orientation, to give them a safe place to express their needs and feelings rather than divert them.

For our 3rd World Congress, Validation Training Institute has once again teamed with Linked Senior to offer all people in the field of aging new perspectives, insight and practical ways to connect heart to heart with people living with cognitive change. The National Council of Dementia Minds also joins us, bringing the voices of persons living with dementia to the table. We’ll explore what PLD want from care-partners, what care-partners want or need and how we can transcend society’s ‘Tragedy narrative’ when it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

What do people living with cognitive change want from care-partners?
Transcending the tragedy narrative from a societal perspective.
What do care-partners want/need when interacting with people living with dementia?

Decoding Dementia 2023

The recordings are below:

Montessori Inspired Lifestyle, the Validation method and Best Friends Approach are all ‘person-directed’ mindsets, strategies, or tools. Dr. Cameron Camp, Vicki de Klerk-Rubin and David Troxel will share the principles of their methods, how to apply them to contemporary dementia care, and share how they can complement one another to enhance the lives of persons living with dementia and their care partners. Following this, an expert panel will discuss the meaning and importance of choosing an ‘evidence-based’ approach for in-service training. Participants will become equipped to talk to executives about their recommendations for training. Finally, participants will practice six specific skills that they can use immediately in their daily work.

World Congress 2023

When Naomi Feil developed the Validation method, she put the older adult in the middle. She said, “We need to cross the street and meet them where they are now.” As care partners, we need to step into their shoes and find empathy. Through empathy, we find connection and communication. That was in the early 1980s and those concepts have become the backbone of ‘person-centered care’ today. This conference will explore the various ways Feil’s concepts have inspired others to develop new ways of connecting and communicating with older adults living with cognitive change. This event will help care partners in every setting create a tool chest filled with ways of preventing withdrawal and develop strategies to also care for themselves to prevent burn-out.

Gerontological Society of America Scientific Conference 2022

November 2-6, 2022

Dr. Harvey Sterns, long-time VTI Board member and professor emeritus of psychology at University of Akron (just two of his many activities) will be presenting our recent research at the Gerontological Society of America Scientific Conference this November in Indianapolis. Our study looked at the effectiveness of the 6 Skill Building Blocks, a totally online, asynchronous training in basic Validation skills. It was shown to be relevant to caregivers and effective training. “This is a great way to onboard new staff or refresh person-centered skills.”

Validation First World Congress

The Validation First World Congress will draw on 40 years of groundbreaking innovation, highlight collaboration with all stakeholders and focus on current needs of today’s caregivers in order to create a path to continue innovating and supporting the lives of elders worldwide.