Unsure where to start when working with dementia? You’re not alone!

This certification was designed with you in mind – a comprehensive dementia care program developed to specifically meet the needs of OTs, PTs and SLPs, as you are a vital part of the dementia care team.

Understanding the unique challenges and considerations involved in providing care for individuals with dementia and their care partners is crucial, and this course will provide you a tried-and-true dementia framework that will simplify your assessment and treatment plan, no matter where in their dementia journey they are.

• Understand the types of dementia, their progression, and how they impact your plan of care
• Behavior management tools to reduce challenging behaviors like agitation, anxiety, and aggression
• Create dementia-friendly environments: reduce confusion, improve orientation & enhance safety
• Adapt your communication style to accommodate cognitive changes to reduce overwhelm and confusion
• Incorporate simple cognitive treatment strategies to enhance engagement in therapy and home program
• Integrate functional activities that align with their routines and interests
• Slow cognitive decline with cognitive stimulation therapy and multisensory stimulation
• Enhance collaboration with care partners to provide education and practical tools
• Navigate ethical challenges: informed consent, decision-making capacity, and autonomy

This training filled with practical and applicable strategies will help you confidently provide person-centered care to each unique case based on their needs and limitations. Plus, you’re instantly eligible to become a Certified Dementia Care Specialist (CDCS) through Evergreen Certifications!*

So what are you waiting for? Register today!

---

BONUS!

The tuition includes your CDCS certification fee!

There’re no hidden charges. Just complete this training. When you finish, you’ll get simple instructions on how you can easily apply to become certified at no additional cost to you!

*Professional standards apply. Learn more at www.evergreencertifications.com/ecdcs.

Objectives

1. Utilize cognitive assessments to differentiate depression from dementia.
2. Identify personalized care strategies that improve patient functioning.
3. Compare the 19 primary types of dementia to improve patient assessment.
4. Select environmental assessments to identify modifications that will improve patient safety.
5. Identify treatment approaches to prevent cognitive decline and enhance quality of life.
6. Identify characteristics of a resilient care circle to improve daily function and quality of life.
7. Distinguish between normal and abnormal aging processes.
8. Differentiate between subjective cognitive impairment and mild cognitive impairment.
9. Choose cognitive treatment strategies to improve engagement in therapy and home programs.
10. Identify symptoms of pseudo-dementia.
11. Determine treatment plans to help dementia patients maintain the highest ability to function.
12. Identify how the PEACE approach reduces challenging behaviors.
13. Integrate functional activities that align with patient routines and interests to maintain independence in ADLs and IADLs.
14. Utilize the PEACE approach to educate families how to proactively manage behaviors.

Outline

Getting Started: An Easy To Use Dementia Care Framework with Comprehensive Care Planning

• Applicable for every unique dementia care situation, without being overwhelming to patients and their care partners
• Importance of specialized care for individuals with dementia
• Role of rehab therapists in dementia care
• Develop an effective care circle: Who is along for the journey?
• Who Controls the Dementia Journey? When Care Partners Need To Take Control
• Advanced functional assessments for complex ADLs and iADLSs

The Burden Being Carried: Impact of Dementia on Care Partners and Society

• Dive into the primary dementia types, symptoms, risk factors and progression
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Lewy body dementia
  • Frontotemporal dementia
  • Other types of dementia: mixed dementia, Parkinson’s dementia, etc.
• Atypical presentations of Alzheimer’s disease
• Differentiate between primary and secondary progressive aphasia
• Evidence-based tools for prevention of cognitive decline with clinical application for patients and their care partners in their daily challenges.

Understanding Cognition: Advancing Critical Thinking Skills

• In-depth exploration of comprehensive cognitive assessments & specific benefits of each
• Short Blessed Test, BCAT and The MoCA, CNS Vital Signs, Kingston Scales
• Tools to differentiate depression from dementia
• Assess physical and sensory impairments in individuals with dementia

Practical Solutions To Challenging Behaviors: How and Where To Focus PEACE Approach for agitation, aggression, wandering, repetitive questions and more!

• Person With Dementia:
  • Manage common dementia related “challenging behaviors”.
  • Recognize and manage comorbidities in dementia care
• Environment of care:
  • How it can either help (or hinder) function
  • Effective home evaluation tips for dementia
  • Complex environmental assessments and modifications for safety and independence
• Activity engagement:
  • Tools to promote psychosocial well being
  • Example: Montessori-Based Dementia Programming as a treatment modality
• Care partner stressors and the impact on patient’s function
  • Explore readiness to change related to becoming a care partner
• Education:
  • How to tailor the treatment plan and care partner education
  • Research updates on non-RX interventions & person centered care
  • Best practices to address challenging behaviors

Advanced Treatment Approaches for Dementia Care

• Interventions for maintaining mobility, preventing falls and promoting independence in ADLs
• Adaptive equipment, environmental modifications and emerging technology
• Exercise and physical activity recommendations
• Little known tools, checklists and resource guides for therapists and assistants
• Ethical considerations in decision-making and endof- life care for individuals with advanced dementia

Help the Helper: What Rehabilitation Professionals Need To Know About Being A Care Partner

• Support families and caregivers through the challenges of advanced dementia care
• Community resources and support networks for caregivers
• Self-care and stress management for caregivers
• Integrate mindfulness and holistic approaches
• Balancing autonomy and safety concerns in dementia care
• Tips to avoid early institutionalization

Develop a Comprehensive Dementia Care Plan: Putting It All Together

• Help your care partners develop their own comprehensive dementia care plan
• Develop care plans and treatment strategies based on case scenarios
• Analyze complex and multidimensional case studies in dementia care
• Apply advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Role-playing exercises to enhance communication and intervention

Target Audience

• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapists Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Speech Language Pathologists