In this episode, I sit down with Claire Gallagher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and founder of Atlas Behavioral Consultants, to discuss her unique focus in behavioral gerontology and how applied behavior analysis (ABA) can improve the lives of aging adults with neurocognitive impairments, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

We're fortunate to also have her on our BCBA team here at Sidekick! We dive into how her work connects to the importance of ABA supervision and the development of pivotal skills that behavior analysts need to succeed in subspecialties like gerontology.

Episode Highlights:

• Claire’s journey from working in autism services to finding her passion in aging care.
• What behavioral gerontology is and how ABA can be applied to address age-related challenges.
• The importance of non-pharmacological interventions in managing behaviors in older adults.
• How Claire’s company, Atlas Behavioral Consultants, provides caregiver training to apply behavior analysis strategies, emphasizing how these skills can be generalized across settings.
• The connection between ABA supervision and subspecialties: Claire discusses how supervision should help trainees explore diverse areas of practice beyond autism, emphasizing rapport building, pivotal skills like assessment and intervention, and continuing education in different fields.
• Strategies for BCBA supervisors to help trainees broaden their scope of competence, equipping them to practice in various settings, including gerontology.

Episode Takeaways:

• How strong ABA supervision can prepare behavior analysts for emerging subspecialties.
• Claire’s advice on mentoring and sourcing continuing education to develop expertise in behavioral gerontology.
• Why supervisors should focus on teaching core ABA skills that apply to a range of populations and settings.

Connect with Claire: Website: Atlas Behavioral Consultants
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Claire Gallagher

Get Claire's Recommended Resources for Behavioral Gerontology (podcasts, articles, books, organizations)

Keywords: Behavioral Gerontology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Aging Care, Dementia, Caregiver Training, Non-Pharmacological Interventions, ABA Supervision, BCBA, Supervision Competencies, Atlas Behavioral Consultants

Disclaimer:

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