Dementia Care Specialists

09/18/2026

Caregivers don’t leave because they don’t care.

Many leave because they feel unprepared for the hardest moments: a distressed person, unexpected behavior, or a shift where every decision feels like a guess.

That’s why competence is one of the most important retention strategies in dementia care.

When care partners have practical, evidence-based tools, they can:
• Respond with greater confidence
• De-escalate challenging moments more safely
• Protect their energy and reduce burnout
• See a clear path for professional growth

DCCS training helps teams understand what a person living with dementia CAN DO: and how to provide care that is both person-centered and effective.

Credentials such as Dementia Capable Care Specialist (DCCS) and Workforce Leader recognition make growth visible, celebrate the people doing the work, and strengthen a culture of learning.

When people feel capable, they’re more likely to feel confident, connected, and committed.

09/17/2026

💙 In hospice care, understanding the person matters just as much as understanding the diagnosis.

When an individual is also living with dementia, changes in cognition can affect how they communicate discomfort, respond to their surroundings, understand what's happening, and connect with the people supporting them.

Recognizing those changes can help hospice professionals adapt their approach to meet the individual where they are—with dignity, compassion, and respect for the abilities that remain.

🌱 Because even when words or abilities change, the need for comfort, connection, and person-centered support remains.

Dementia Capable Care education gives professionals another layer of understanding they can bring to these deeply important moments of care.

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Individuals
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/individual-training

09/15/2026

The goal isn’t to win the moment. It’s to lower the threat: and protect the person’s dignity.

In dementia care, effective de-escalation may look like:

1) Recognizing early cues: pacing, repeated questions, changes in tone, or withdrawal.

2) Adapting communication: using fewer words, one step at a time, a calm voice, and simple visual or environmental cues.

3) Creating space: slowing down, relaxing your posture, reducing noise, and avoiding power struggles.

4) Meeting the person at their current ability level. The Allen Cognitive Levels help teams understand what support may be meaningful in the moment.

5) Following the CPI Crisis Development Model℠ to remain calm, person-centered, and intentional as emotions rise.

This isn’t about ignoring safety concerns or avoiding medication when it is clinically appropriate. It’s about building practical skills that can help prevent escalation before a crisis takes over.

With the right approach, teams can create safer environments, support fewer medication-based interventions, and help staff feel more confident in difficult moments.

What would change in your team’s response if every staff member felt prepared for the first signs of distress?

09/14/2026

Imagine sitting down at a table and not knowing what a fork is, or fearing that the food in front of you isn't safe.

In this insightful clip, Lana Dorffer, Director of Dementia Care Specialists, challenges us to look at mealtimes through the eyes of those living with dementia.

🎥 Watch now for a beautiful example of how personalized care increased one resident's intake by 50%.

Want to learn more? Head to our website to explore our full range of training options!

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Individuals
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/individual-training/

Imagine sitting down at a table and not knowing what a fork is, or ...

09/10/2026

💙 What changes when a care team stops seeing a "behavior" and starts seeing communication?

That shift in perspective is at the heart of becoming dementia capable. It moves care beyond reacting to what a person is doing and toward understanding what they may be trying to express.

Dr. Schekesia Meadough has seen the impact firsthand when she led the implementation of dementia-capable care programs at two senior living organizations.

Ready to explore what becoming more dementia capable could mean for your organization?

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training

09/09/2026

Supporting independence doesn't mean doing less—it means knowing when and how to help.

For individuals living with dementia, the right level of support can make the difference between having something done for them and being empowered to participate in daily life.

In assisted living and memory care, understanding cognitive function and retained abilities helps teams recognize where support is needed—and where an individual may still be able to engage, make choices, and experience success.

💙 Sometimes better dementia care begins by asking a different question: "What can this person still do?"

Dementia Capable Care education helps professionals build the knowledge to answer that question and translate it into everyday care.

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services
🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training
🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Individuals
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/individual-training

09/07/2026

💙 This Labor Day, we recognize the people whose compassion, dedication, and expertise make a difference every day.

Healthcare professionals and care partners do more than provide care. They build relationships, support independence, preserve dignity, and create meaningful moments for individuals living with dementia and their families.

At Dementia Care Specialists, we're proud to support the professionals behind this important work. Through dementia care education and consulting, we help organizations build dementia-capable workforces equipped with the knowledge and skills to focus on what each person CAN do.

🌱 This Labor Day, we celebrate those who dedicate their work to helping others live with greater dignity, purpose, and quality of life.

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services
🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training
🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Individuals
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/individual-training

09/01/2026

📚 Don't wait until the new year to advance your dementia care skills.

October is an opportunity to invest in your professional development now and finish the year with knowledge you can carry forward. Our virtual Dementia Capable Care training gives you the flexibility to learn from wherever you are while developing practical, evidence-based strategies for supporting individuals living with dementia.

Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to expand your expertise or a leader seeking training opportunities for your team, there's still time to make professional growth part of your 2026 goals.

💻 Explore upcoming Dementia Capable Care classes and reserve your spot today.

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Individuals
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/individual-training

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services

08/31/2026

💙 Build a stronger dementia care program from the ground up.

Creating a truly dementia-capable organization takes more than good intentions—it requires the right strategy, education, and environment. Our consulting services help organizations strengthen person-centered care, optimize daily function, and create spaces that support dignity, independence, and meaningful engagement.

📞 Let's discuss your organization's goals:
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services

08/26/2026

💙 One certified instructor. A stronger team. Better outcomes for those you support.

Becoming a Dementia Capable Care Certified Instructor (DCC-CI) is more than earning a credential—it's an investment in your organization's future. By empowering one leader to deliver evidence-based, person-centered education, you can build internal expertise, strengthen consistency across your care teams, and support a more dementia-capable workforce.

The result? Greater staff confidence, more consistent person-centered practices, and enhanced support for individuals living with dementia, their families, and care partners.

🔹 Dementia Care Consulting Services
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/dementia-care-consulting-services

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Organizations
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/organizations-training

🔹 Dementia Capable Care Training for Individuals
https://dementiacarespecialists.com/dementia-care-training/individual-training