To listen to Sarah and Jennifer's 'Michigan Business Beat' interview about Crisis Intervention Training in the Muskegon, MI, area click on this embedded SoundCloud PodCast shared below:

In this interview, Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Sarah Milanowski L.M.S.W., Manager of Enrollment & Marketing, and Jennifer Haak, LBSW,  Behavioral Health Clinician LifeCircles PACE, Muskegon, MI. His questions revolve around these points:

CIT Training · LifeCircles PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) has been assisting in Crisis Intervention Training, along with multiple community partners, to equip law enforcement for responding to individuals experiencing a behavioral crisis.

· Being a partner involved with CIT training has been important to the organization’s mission and helped the greater community with how to react to these types of situations.

· The training utilizes a community partnership made up of law enforcement, mental health professionals, and others who navigate non-criminal crises that may be related to mental health or other unmet needs. · CIT was brought to West Michigan by HealthWest, with the first training held last February. LifeCircles joined as a partner among other community organizations such as DHHS, AgeWell Services, and more

· Every three months, 16 officers graduate from the CIT training. The program is an intensive 40-hour week that consists of modules focused on ways to deescalate situations related to mental health, substance abuse, geriatric care, and more.

· A dementia diagnosis can be challenging for the individual and their loved ones, but LifeCircles is making it a priority to show that there are ways to provide respectful engagement to enhance quality of life for those impacted by dementia

LifeCircles PACE also recently shared a press release about this topic:

Lakeshore-based Senior Care Organization Assists Crisis Intervention Training Alongside Local Law Enforcement

LifeCircles PACE is collaborating with first responders to provide training and tactics meant to assist individuals experiencing behavioral crises. 

July, 2022 –  Approximately 19%* of emergency calls are related to dementia and other behavioral health conditions. LifeCircles PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) has been assisting in Crisis Intervention Training, along with multiple community partners, to equip law enforcement for responding to individuals experiencing a behavioral crisis.

“44% of the participants we serve live with dementia,” says Dr. Allison Ilem, Ph.D., BCBA, Director of Behavioral Health at LifeCircles PACE and a PAC-certified instructor. “However, as many as 70% have some level of dementia or cognitive impairment. Because behavioral challenges are so prevalent with dementia, it is vital that we provide our team members, as well as family members and local care partners, with the tools and training they need to best serve the older adults in our care, while reducing the stress and burnout of care partners.” 

LifeCircles provides an in-home alternative to traditional nursing home living. They offer support through in-home services, day centers, and community outreach. LifeCircles’ involvement with CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) training is just one example of their dedication to their participants and sharing their expertise to assist Lakeshore communities. 

“We can’t make dementia go away. Our job is to help these individuals validate their loss and give them the tools to capitalize on and embrace the joyful moments,” said Jennifer Haak, LifeCircles’ PAC (Positive Approach to Care) Coordinator. “Being a partner involved with CIT training has been important to our organization’s mission and helping the greater community with how we view these types of situations.” 

The training utilizes a community partnership made up of law enforcement, mental health professionals, and others who navigate non-criminal crises that may be related to mental health or other unmet needs. The training was brought to West Michigan by HealthWest, with the first training held last February. LifeCircles joined as a partner among other community organizations such as DHHS, AgeWell Services, and more. Police officers from Fruitport Township and surrounding areas are also participating. 

Every three months, 16 officers graduate from the CIT training. The program is an intensive 40-hour week that consists of modules focused on ways to deescalate situations related to mental health, substance abuse, geriatric care, and more. 

Officers participate in role-playing scenarios to learn strategies for engaging in these challenging situations. For example, mental health professionals exhibit specific symptoms while the other officers attempt to navigate assisting the role player presenting with challenges through appropriate tactics. The tactics include focusing on communicating and connecting through three primary avenues: visual, before verbal, and touch. Moving too quickly to any of these methods could escalate the encounter which could have potentially dangerous consequences. 

The LifeCircles team involved in this larger training program has seen a willingness to learn from the officers they are working with. Officers have been open to learning de-escalation strategies including relying on personal relationships and conversation versus force. 

“The law enforcement we’ve worked with have been eager to learn more about providing accommodations for mental health crises,” said Haak. “As our community and officers have more awareness on how to de-escalate some of the difficult situations with dignity and respect, it shows that LifeCircles is helping to pave the way for those with dementia to get better care now and in the future.” 

A dementia diagnosis can be challenging for the individual and their loved ones, but LifeCircles is making it a priority to show that there are ways to provide respectful engagement to enhance quality of life for those impacted by dementia in our community. By honoring strengths and being educated about how to best handle crisis situations, police officers will make a difference to those with dementia and other brain health conditions. 

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About LifeCircles PACE: At LifeCircles PACE, we believe living at home matters to older adults, because we know it matters to you. Our program is unique in its simplicity and common-sense approach to senior care. LifeCircles has provided an in-home alternative to traditional nursing home living since 2009. We provide peace of mind and support to seniors and their caregivers by providing all-inclusive medical and support services in-homes and at our day centers. For more information, visit our website: www.lifecircles-pace.org.

*According to Vera.org