About

The Dementia Collaborative offers education and training to formal and informal care partners of individuals with dementia in addition to professional trainings. Here you will find information about the Skills2Care® certification course for occupational therapists, opportunities for professional collaboration, agency trainings, community presentations, and continuing education events. 

Mission

To increase care partners’ and healthcare professionals’ knowledge and understanding of dementia care through the delivery of high quality evidence-informed dementia education and training

Meet the Instructor

Rachel Wiley

Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP (she/her) is an occupational therapist and the founder and owner of Day By Day Dementia Consulting and the Dementia Collaborative. Rachel is certified in Skills2Care® for caregivers of individuals with dementia, and she is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Rachel is also a certified master trainer of Skills2Care® through Jefferson Elder Care and trains occupational therapists from around the country in the Skills2Care® program. Rachel owned and managed a mobile Medicare Part B practice, Day By Day Home Therapy, providing Skills2Care®, for 6 years. She is currently an advisory council member for Dementia Society of America. Previously, Rachel was an adjunct faculty member in the occupational therapy departments at Thomas Jefferson University and Temple University. She also worked as the occupational therapist and Dementia Service Coordinator for the Pew Charitable Trust Grant with Jefferson Elder Care. Rachel is a co-author for a chapter in "Dementia Rehabilitation: Evidence-Based Interventions and Clinical Recommendations" and has presented to formal and informal caregivers and professionals both nationally and internationally. She attended Penn State University for her Bachelor's in Rehabilitation and Human Services and minor in Psychology and attended Thomas Jefferson University for her Master's in Occupational Therapy. She previously served as the Gerontology Chair for the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association's (POTA) District V Board and was the recipient of the "OT Award of Recognition" for "Innovator in Specialized Dementia Care" from POTA in 2019 . Rachel also received an Alumni Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania State University in 2023. Rachel has been working with individuals with dementia for over 15 years. Rachel enjoys her mom's home-cooked meals, hanging out with her dog, Abbi, and rock-climbing.

In the event that you are experiencing significant financial hardship and you feel you would benefit from accessing one of our courses for care partners, please contact us at [email protected] with your name, relationship to the person for whom you are caring, and the topic of interest. 

The Dementia Collaborative LLC provides education, training, and consultation. Accessing these services does not create a patient/provider relationship and does not take the place of occupational therapy treatment. 

Skills2Care® is a trademark of Thomas Jefferson University.  All rights reserved.