PHILIPSBURG / SABA:--- The White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) is pleased to announce the organization of the Caribbean Case Manager Dementia Training, which was launched during the first-class week on Saba in April. This regional initiative represents a significant step forward in enhancing the quality of care for individuals living with dementia and their informal caregivers throughout the region.
Representing Sint Maarten were three committed WYCCF staff members: Michelline, Minerva, and Vaitaire, who joined social workers and nurses from Saba, Statia, and Bonaire for a week of intensive training. The program is designed to prepare participants for their future roles as case managers in dementia care, focusing on three essential responsibilities: becoming dementia experts, coordinating local care networks, and advocating for greater public awareness.
The training embraced interactive learning, peer exchange, and hands-on experience. From identifying early signs of dementia and understanding diagnostic pathways to tackling the stigma surrounding dementia in the Caribbean, participants worked collaboratively to develop practical strategies tailored to their island’s needs.
A special highlight was a guest session by neuropsychologist Marije Veenstra from Bonaire, who offered insight into cognitive testing and gave participants the chance to experience several of these tools themselves.
Each participant left the week with a personalized action plan, setting clear goals for the coming months. These monthly plans will help guide their growth in the three core roles of the case manager, with the ongoing support of management and mentors. As a long-standing care provider for persons living with dementia and their loved ones, the WYCCF is proud to invest in this next generation of care leaders.
“We are incredibly proud of our team for stepping into this important training,” said Bregje Boetekees, WYCCF Operations Manager. “It shows our ongoing commitment to providing trusted, high-quality care, not only in our own facilities, but across the region.”
The WYCCF thanks its regional partners, and all facilitators involved in making the start of this one year training a success. By working together across borders, the Caribbean continues to raise the standard of dementia care, one island, one case manager at a time.
