Dementia resources for caregivers & professionals
A page within Dementia resources for caregivers & professionals
Dementia Care & Support Online Courses
Become a Dementia Support Specialist
The Dementia Care & Support Courses are a series of three flexible, self-paced online courses designed to deepen your understanding of dementia and strengthen the tools you need to support individuals and families.
Who will benefit
Whether you are a healthcare professional, caregiver, educator, researcher, or community member, these courses provide evidence-based, person-centered strategies to enhance care and improve quality of life.
Earn a digital badge, CE hours, or CEUs
Dementia Support Specialist digital badgeChoose one, two, or all three courses, in the order that best fits your needs. Those who finish the full series earn a Dementia Support Specialist digital badge recognizing advanced knowledge in dementia care.
A digital badge is a virtual and verifiable credential that represents a skill, achievement, or competency. Digital badges contain embedded data about the issuer, the criteria to earn the badge, and other details making them more than just a static image.
NBCC CE hours and UWL CEUs are also available for each course.
What you'll gain
- Practical skills to support individuals with dementia and their families
- Insights into person-centered and non-pharmacological approaches
- Strategies to reduce stigma, manage caregiver stress, and navigate grief
- Flexible learning with video lectures, readings, & reflection prompts
Explore the courses — complete them in the order that works best for you!
Register Today
Take the next step in building your expertise in dementia care — enroll today and start learning at your own pace.
NBCC
NBCC Approved Continuing Education ProviderUniversity of Wisconsin-La Crosse Graduate & Extended Learning has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider™ , ACEP No. 6303. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Graduate & Extended Learning is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Instructor
Erica Srinivasan
Psychology
My name is Erica G. Srinivasan. I mainly work as an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where I teach courses on gerontology and end of life care, including a course on dementia for undergraduate students and now this course for community members and continuing education professionals. I also offer a grief support specialist certificate through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Continuing Education.
My interest in dementia began almost 30 years ago, when I worked as a resident assistant in a care facility. There were many people living with dementia and I was able to see the difference that quality care and social connections could make for people with dementia. Unfortunately, after working and volunteering in many different care facilities, I have also seen the negative impact that can happen if we don't treat people with care, respect and dignity. These experiences have all influenced me to provide this class. In my work, I have also ran workshops for caregiver support groups and conducted research on the subjective experience of living with dementia and the caregiving and grief experience of bereaved family members of someone with dementia. I am inspired by education and approaches that can help people with dementia and their care partners live a better quality of life. I hope you are inspired and motivated to improve the quality of dementia care and quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners, too. Thank you for joining this course.
I've designed this course to be helpful for people living with dementia, family members, friends and care partners of people with dementia, healthcare professionals, (including clinicians, social workers and therapists) and interested community members and leaders.
More Ways to Learn
Become a leader in a growing field!
Earn a graduate certificate in Nursing Home Administration or a master's degree in Heathcare Administration.
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