The Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional Course

To work as an allied healthcare professional usually means treating patients with dementia is a day-to-day occurrence. According to the USC Schaeffer Center, as of 2025, there are 5.6 million people living with dementia in the United States. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, and the Alzheimer’s Association found 1 in 9 people over the age of 65 suffer from the disease.

As dementia progresses, people suffering from it require more frequent hospitalization. Beth Israel Lahey Health published a study showing 40% of hospitalizations of older adults with dementia were for potentially preventable conditions, such as pneumonia and heart failure, reflecting dementia patients not receiving a high enough quality outpatient care.   

People with dementia often also require an elevated level of assistance in healthcare settings. For example, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey found 61% of visits to the emergency room by adults with Alzheimer’s disease required an ambulance, compared to only 34.9% of ER visitors who don’t have Alzheimer’s needing an ambulance.

There are also unique challenges for allied healthcare professionals in understanding how to safely treat a patient group who aren’t always able to articulate their needs. Nursing home residents with dementia or other organic brain syndrome are 8.26 times more likely to become aggressive with the nursing home staff, compared to residents without a cognitive impairment. 

These risks can be mitigated by better understanding patients with dementia. Unfortunately, allied healthcare workers overall are not receiving an adequate level of memory care training. 

In an online survey of allied health professionals, only 13% of participants displayed comprehensive dementia knowledge. Additionally, the Alzheimer’s Association reports 75% of health care workers providing dementia care navigation say they received no formal training in the field.

This is especially a problem in long-term care facilities, as over 3 million nursing home residents in the United States currently have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Certified nursing assistants in nursing homes have a federal requirement to complete only 75 hours of entry-level training. While dementia care is one of the topics covered, there’s no requirements on how much it’s covered.  

Unsurprisingly, a study of certified nurses aides caring for residents with dementia at long-term facilities found most learning occurred “on the job”, as opposed to through actual training. 

Many allied healthcare positions already have high burnout rates, and caring for people suffering from dementia is especially challenging. For the sake of employee safety, retention and the quality of patient care, more memory care training is needed.

How the Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional Course From MedCerts Can Help

The new Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional speciality course from MedCerts is designed to efficiently give allied healthcare professionals a thorough understanding of how to support, communicate with and understand individuals with dementia. The 16-hour, one-week online course is guided by an expert in memory care to provide essential concepts and actionable strategies that can be applied to a variety of different healthcare settings, including memory care, long-term care, hospitals and home care. 

For healthcare employers, the Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional is a low cost opportunity to address the gaps in their allied healthcare team’s knowledge of dementia care. The on-demand eLearning course answers the most challenging questions related to treating patients with dementia, such as what strategies can minimize mood and behavioral changes, addressing resistance to care and discusses approaches to promote cooperation in their daily life. 

The video-based instruction also relies on interactive skill games, 3D virtual scenarios and hands-on interaction to deliver foundational knowledge. Key areas of focus include ways to support the autonomy of patients and residents, how to mitigate safety risks, share therapeutic activities and how to support and communicate with the loved ones of people with dementia. 

Allied healthcare employees completing the Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional course will better understand: 

• How dementia is diagnosed
• Ways to enhance communication with people suffering from dementia
• How dementia changes the brain 
• The challenges facing people with dementia and those encountered by their supporters. 
• The strengths and positive aspects of dementia
• Therapeutic activities that support the well-being of people with dementia   
• Ways to support a person with dementia to participate in their own daily life and decision making
• How to identify risks to the safety and well-being of people with dementia and describe methods to mitigate these risks
• Ways to minimize challenges related to mood and behavior 

Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional is a standalone course valuable for any allied healthcare professional interfacing with patients dealing with dementia. It’s especially recommended for staff who have completed the following certifications, either through a MedCerts program or otherwise.   

The cost of the Memory Care Essentials for the Healthcare Professional course is $500 per employee enrolled. 

Conclusion 

Interactions between mentally impaired patients and allied health professionals can be incredibly challenging and frustrating for both parties. Additional training will better prepare your workforce for understanding the unique needs of patients with dementia, leading to better patient care and reduced caretaker stress. 

Want more information about how MedCerts Partner Solutions can train your allied healthcare team for better memory care outcomes? Contact us today at  [email protected]!