About The Institute

Pines Education Institute was established as a regional training center for medical professionals, paraprofessionals and at home caregivers in order to provide cutting edge education and training for a broad range of medical interests, which will improve the quality of care for seniors in residential and home-based settings.

 

Pines Education Institute offers internships for medical students, nurses, and administrators to experience training in a long-term care environment.

 

We are positioned to provide outreach programs, support, resources and counseling to family members and caregivers who are involved in the day-to-day care of Alzheimer's and dementia patients. The growing population of home-bound caregivers is very much in need of specialized training, as well as support, in the demanding role they play.

 

Pines Education Institute is bringing a broad range of resources to the health care employment arena. Ongoing classes are offered for certification for those wishing to become Assisted Living Administrators. Many "train the trainer" opportunities for skills that enhance the healthcare worker's professional expertise, in addition to their income, are being offered. We will also use teleconferencing to teach geriatric nursing. Pines Education Institute has created partnerships with Roskamp Institute, Myers Research, University of South Florida, the Medical School at Florida State University, and Age Inc.

 

Training topics include:

• Elder Law Issues
• End of Life
• Alzheimer's disease
• Care Giving Classes
• Geriatric Nursing
• Aging and Disabilities
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices
• Healthcare and the Arts
• Adverse Drug Reactions

 

Institute Director

JoAnn Westbrook serves as the Education Institute Director. She received her degree in Gerontology from the University of South Florida. She is licensed as a Nursing Home Administrator and  is certified as an ALF Administrator. JoAnn is also a state certified Alzheimer's trainer. She has worked as an Executive Director for Independent and Assisted Living as well as consulting for new facilities. She is the author of Do You Know Where Your Parents Are?, a comprehensive book of elder placement. Twelve years ago she established The Garden, a specialized unit for 45 residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia for Pines of Sarasota. In July of 2007, JoAnn created the Education Institute at Pines of Sarasota.