Support Your Staff with Training
Get started with our in-service toolkit
This toolkit is part of SafelyYou University, a first-of-its-kind program that combines dementia awareness with fall prevention training. SafelyYou University is filling a gap in training for senior care staff—and it’s all available for free.
Use the toolkit to help educate and empower your staff, giving them the skills they need to deliver safer, higher-quality care more effectively.
Available Modules
We’re launching the SafelyYou University In-Service Training with the eight modules listed to the right, with more in development. Each module includes a video to share with your staff, often a clip pulled from the coursework to allow you to teach the concept, but also new footage to help illustrate the lesson.
Each module contains the following:
- Module topic video clip you can play right from this page
- Link to download the video, as needed for your community's process and procedures
- Additional downloadable supporting files as applicable
- Learning Objectives
- Suggested Application
- Assessment
Train caregivers on best practice fall response.
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of a residents perspective during a fall event. After the session, participants will be able to identify and model proper fall response procedures including lowering at entry, alerting a secondary team member and completing a comprehensive physical evaluation.
Assessment
Ensure all participants have played 3 roles: first responder, secondary responder, and resident.
Discuss proper vs. improper response to a fall, highlighting the event from a resident's perspective.
Suggested Application
To reinforce the concept of fall response, try this interactive role play with your team.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Fall Response
- Discuss proper vs. improper response to a fall, highlighting the event from a residents perspective
- Break participants into groups of 3 to role play proper response
- Monitor groups for the following:
- lowering at entry
- comforting the resident
- calling for a second team member
- completion of a physical evaluation
Learning Objectives
Assessment
• Have all participants demonstrate completion of a physical evaluation regardless of their role.
Suggested Application
1.) Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Fall Response
2.) Discuss proper vs. improper response to a fall, highlighting the event from a residents perspective
3.) Break participants into groups of 3 to role play proper response
4.) Monitor groups for the following:
• lowering at entry
• comforting the resident
• calling for a second team member
• completion of a physical evaluation"
Step by step process for safe resident assisted transfers off the ground.
Learning Objectives
Participants will develop the skills needed to physically cue a resident and support a safe transfer off the ground post fall. Upon completion, participants will be equipped to implement the technique to real fall events.
Assessment
Ensure all participants have played 3 roles: first responder, second responder (sets up and supports chair or wheelchair), and the resident.
Suggested Application
To reinforce the concept of fall response, try this interactive role play with your team.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Transfer Off the Ground
- Discuss technique and residents within the community who may respond well to this method
- Break participants into groups of 3 to role play proper response
- Monitor groups for the following:
- Placing a chair near the resident to aid transfer
- Instructing the resident to move onto all fours
- Instructing the resident to bring one leg forward into a kneeling position
- Placing the gait belt firmly around the residents waist
- Gently lifting the resident and guiding them into the chair
Visual illustration and explanation of proper vs. improper placement of mobility aids with regards to resident transfer status and cognition.
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain knowledge regarding a person centered approach to mobility aid placement for frequent fallers. Upon completion, concepts presented in this session can be effectively utilized within the community.
Assessment
Quiz participants on proper placement of devices for residents most at risk. Ensure consistently among team members and across shifts.
Suggested Application
To increase awareness of proper mobility placement when alone try this interactive team activity.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Mobility Aid Placement
- Discuss proper placement of mobility aids for frequent fallers, utilize their room to demonstrate appropriate placement
- Instruct caregivers to demonstrate proper positioning of walker or wheelchair at the bedside (out of view if resident is unable to use safely)
- Monitor for the following:
- Device is in close proximity of bed & positioned at exit point (not near head of the bed)
- Wheelchairs: Locked and positioned to promote a safe self transfer
- Walkers: Facing towards the resident to promote ease of use
- Resident has a clear path to exit and navigate the device
Overview of proper resident/caregiver interactions for a safe walker transfer.
Learning Objectives
Participants will recall and apply 3 key points for a safe transfer from walker to chair.
Assessment
Ensure participants effectively demonstrate the 3 key steps and switch roles (resident and caregiver).
Suggested Application
To promote safe resident assisted transfers with walkers, try this interactive team activity.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Cueing Techniques for Walker Use
- Break participants into groups of 2-3 to role play the process.
- Instruct caregivers to focus on 3 key points:
- Prepare: Lower to eye level, great the resident and explain what will be happening
- Instruct: Resident to push up from chair, then reach for the walker
- Guide: Remain in close proximity to the resident as they stand and begin to walk
Demonstration of proper technique for a safe wheelchair transfer.
Learning Objectives
Participants will recall and apply 3 key points to a safe transfer from chair to wheelchair.
Assessment
Ensure participants effectively demonstrate the 3 key steps and switch roles (resident and caregiver).
Suggested Application
To promote safe resident assisted transfers with wheelchairs, try this interactive team activity.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Cueing Techniques for Wheelchair Transfers
- Break participants into groups of 2-3 to role play the process
- Instruct caregivers to focus on 3 key points:
- Prepare: Lower to eye level, great the resident and explain what will be happening, lock chair and remove footrests, place gait belt around waist
- Instruct: Cue the resident to scoot forward and place arms gently around the caregiver
- Guide: Remain in close proximity and slowly pivot, instruct the resident to reach back to slowly lower onto chair or bed
Train caregivers on performing effective environmental sweeps.
Learning Objectives
Participants will recognize potential environmental hazards within the room applying techniques effectively during team wellness rounds.
Assessment
Switch rooms and instruct caregivers to complete the environmental sweep process without cueing.
Suggested Application
To improve effectiveness of team wellness rounding and promote person centered care, try this interactive team activity.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Use of Environmental Sweeps
- Provide caregivers with the SafelyYou Environmental Sweep Checklist (or your community's version of the form)
- Instruct caregivers to identify areas of opportunity within a real resident room
- Monitor for the following:
- Mobility aid placement
- Access to items of interest
- Resident has clutter free path to exit
General overview of walker considerations for senior living.
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a general overview of walker considerations for senior living including walker type, sizing and safety considerations.
Assessment
Quiz participants on the key differences between 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled walkers with regards to fall risk.
Suggested Application
To improve team understanding of walker type and feel, try this brief activity.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Walker: Types & Fit
- Provide caregivers with a few walkers to try, break out into small groups and practice using the devices
- Instruct caregivers to focus on:
- Device speed and control (4-wheeled walker vs. 2-wheeled walker)
- Proper height
- Proximity to the resident (standing at their side)
General overview of wheelschair considerations for senior living.
Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a general overview of wheelchair considerations for senior living including wheelchair type, sizing and safety considerations.
Assessment
Observe each team member lock devices, remove leg rests and fold the device. Quiz on the key differences between a standard wheelchair and a transport chair.
Suggested Application
To improve team understanding of wheelchair type and feel, try this brief activity.
- Play the video SafelyYou University Training: Wheelchair: Types & Fit
- Provide caregivers with a few wheelchairs, break out into small groups and practice using the devices
- Instruct caregivers to focus on:
- Device type and locking mechanism (transport chair vs. standard wheelchair)
- Folding the chairs
- Adding and removing leg rests