CARES Online Dementia Care Training Program   

The CARES^® Activities of Daily^™ Living 10-Hour Online Training Program focuses on the activities of daily living (ADLs) across all levels of thinking decline, progressing from normal thinking to the first signs of dementia to the late and end stages of the disease process. In each level of decline, specific strategies are presented for a variety of ADLs including bathing, dressing, eating, grooming, mouth care, and using the bathroom. Since a lot of the direct care, you provide is related to ADLs, these thoughtful and effective strategies can be used immediately with anyone for whom you provide care.

This program has 10 modules (10 hours). The modules include:

1. Dementia and the CARES^® Approach
2. Creating Meaning in Activities of Daily Living
3. Recognizing and Managing Pain
4. Bathing
5. Dressing
6. Eating
7. Grooming
8. Mouth Care
9. Using the Bathroom
10. Mobility, Transferring, and Positioning

About CARES^® Dementia Certification^™

CARES Dementia Certification recognizes and tests a user’s dementia understanding and dementia care knowledge.  CARES Dementia Certification is optional and is included at no additional cost with the purchase of CARES Activities of Daily-Living 10-Hour. Successful completion of the exam recognizes users for being educated about dementia and for being trained and certified in person-centered dementia care practices using the CARES^® Approach.

This is an online program and students will need a web browser with an internet connection.

WSCC Program Requirements:

• Students must be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess a high school diploma or GED.

The CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method for Hospitals™ program provides top-quality dementia training in acute care settings. It is specifically designed to reduce costly “adverse events” such as delirium, falls, urinary tract infections, aspiration, pressure ulcers, elder abuse, and hospital readmissions. The program includes HCInteractive’s hallmark CARES® Approach as well as other person-centered tools and strategies for providing enhanced care and communication through increased knowledge and confidence. It was completed in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association and researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center.

The online program consists of 16 video-based modules that include real-life video footage illustrating the effects of common and best practices in the acute-care setting, plus interviews with experts. In addition to videos, the content is rich with animations and interactive learning experiences suited to the adult learner. All content has been designed in a way that makes it viewable in 20-minute to 30-minute blocks of time, helping to fit the training into demanding hospital and medical center schedules.

Also included is the CARES Dementia 5-Step Method for Hospitals online certification exam to take upon completion of all modules. 

Program Topics

The 16 modules are organized into the following four courses. In addition, a focus on the prevention of costly adverse events is presented throughout the program.

• Basics of Dementia-Friendly Care (Modules 1 to 4)
• Communication and Behavior (Modules 5 to 8)
• Patient Safety and Comfort (Modules 9 to 12)
• Personal Care Practices (Modules 13 to 16)
• Preventing Costly Adverse Events (Throughout)

Become a CARES Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.).  If you are someone who wants to advance your career, care strategies, and knowledge about dementia, the CARES online training, certification, and credentialing program will allow you to stand out in the workplace.  The CARES Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.) training program curriculum is comprised of 8 courses, 40 hours, and 40 modules.  This 40-hour training program is designed to provide comprehensive dementia education. Using Healthcare Interactive's CARES(R) video-based training program, students learn patient care skills and techniques on how to care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias.  CARES(R) is a nationally recognized, award-winning, evidence-informed set of programs to improve dementia-care skills.  Each program includes engaging content, interactive activities, and real-life videos (no actors) of actual staff, experts, families, and people living with dementia.  

Upon completion of each module, a short exam is offered and students can receive a certificate e.g., 'Dementia Basics' certification certificate.  

About the CARES Dementia Specialist (C.D.S) Credential

Upon completion of all 8 courses and 40 modules, students are eligible to sit for the CARES Dementia Specialist credentialing exam.  For a limited time only, the C.D.S. credentialing exam (a $150 value) is currently being offered free. 

When this offer expires, the tuition fee will increase to $599 per student.      

CARES Courses:

Dementia Basics - 4 Modules, 4 Hours

Dementia Advanced Care - 6 Modules, 6 Hours

Dementia-Related Behavior - 4 Modules, 4 Hours 

Activities of Daily Living - 4 Modules, 4 Hours

Activities of Daily Living - extended - 10 Modules, 10 Hours

End-of-Life Dementia Care - 5 Modules, 5 Hours

Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention - 3 Modules, 3 Hours

Serious Mental Illness - 4 Modules, 4 Hours

WSCC Program Requirements:

• Students must be at least 18 years of age.
• Possess a high school diploma or GED.
• All students attending an Allied Health program in the Division of Workforce Training are required to have the AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers and Bloodborne Pathogens certifications.  Courses are offered monthly at WSCC campuses.  Cost:  $80 for both.