Certified Dementia Clinician (CDCn)

This self-paced virtual course launches January 2026 and is available on-demand. It will be provided as a self-paced distance-learning asynchronous course with the option for additional live and interactive components. Learners may begin at any time after enrollment and will have 6 months to complete the course.

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Location

Online – accessible from any device through The Dementia Collaborative learning platform.

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Provider Information

Provider Name: The Dementia Collaborative
Primary Contact: Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP
Email: info@dementiacollaborative.com
Website: www.dementiacollaborative.com

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Speaker

Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP – Occupational therapist, educator, and founder of The Dementia Collaborative. Rachel specializes in evidence-based dementia care training for rehabilitation professionals worldwide. Learn more about Rachel here
Additional guest contributors include interdisciplinary professionals from occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, nursing, and social work backgrounds.

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Financial and Non-Financial Disclosures

Rachel Wiley receives financial compensation for the development and facilitation of this course.
She has no non-financial relationships to disclose that could influence course content.

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Target Audience

Occupational therapy practitioners, physical therapy practitioners, speech-language pathologists, social workers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals seeking to strengthen their clinical reasoning and intervention skills in dementia care.

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Educational Level

Intermediate: appropriate for clinicians with foundational knowledge of dementia or experience in working with older adults who wish to expand their ability to analyze, adapt, and apply complex intervention strategies.

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Prerequisites

No formal prerequisites. Basic understanding of dementia is recommended.

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Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, learners will be able to:

Learners will be able to:

1. Relate dementia-related changes in brain structures to their impact on cognition, function, and behavior.

2. Differentiate between major dementia types based on onset, progression, and symptom presentation.

3. Compare various approaches to dementia care to determine appropriate applications within clinical practice.

4. Select appropriate cognitive assessment tools and interpret findings to plan client-centered interventions.

5. Analyze contributing factors and predict potential causes of responsive behaviors to inform intervention strategies.

6. Differentiate and organize verbal and nonverbal communication strategies to reduce distress and promote engagement.

7. Modify and arrange activity demands to support participation based on cognitive level, strengths, and personal preferences.

8. Reorganize physical and social environments to enhance safety, orientation, and participation for people living with dementia.

9. Classify fall risk factors and plan prevention strategies tailored to functional ability and environmental context.

10. Identify and prioritize common safety concerns and develop strategies to reduce risk of harm in daily occupations.

11. Relate occupational therapy roles to those of other disciplines to facilitate effective, person-centered team collaboration.

12. Apply and adapt dementia care strategies across various settings and contexts using sound clinical reasoning.

13. Analyze causes of resistance and formulate individualized strategies to foster cooperation and engagement.

14. Construct and revise documentation that clearly demonstrates skilled intervention, clinical reasoning, and medical necessity.

15. Apply and relate the Transtheoretical Model to care partner interactions to plan tailored education and support strategies.

16. Classify barriers faced by underserved populations and adapt intervention plans to available resources.

17. Interpret case examples and justify selected strategies to balance safety, dignity, and participation in daily occupations.

18. Categorize and evaluate resources and assistive technology tools that enhance safety, participation, and care partner support.

19. Integrate course concepts to solve clinical scenarios and demonstrate competency in evidence-informed dementia care.

 

Description

The Certified Dementia Clinician (CDCn) course provides a comprehensive, occupation-based framework for understanding, assessing, and addressing the functional, cognitive, and behavioral changes associated with dementia.
Learners will progress through 18 content modules and two certification modules that integrate theory, case studies, and applied strategies grounded in evidence-based practice.
Interactive elements include downloadable tools, videos, reflection prompts, and real-world case applications designed to enhance clinical reasoning and confidence.

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Course Outline (Self-Paced)

Modules 1–20:

1. Foundations of Dementia and the Brain

2. Understanding Types of Dementia

3. Approaches to Dementia Care

4. Cognitive Assessment & Clinical Reasoning

5. Responsive Behaviors

6. Communication Strategies

7. Activity Participation

8. Environment

9. Falls & Mobility

10. Additional Safety Considerations

11. Clinical Roles & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

12. Dementia Care in Different Settings

13. Resistance to Participation

14. Documentation in Dementia Care

15. Supporting Care Partners

16. Supporting Underserved and Under-Resourced Populations

17. Case Examples and Common Strategies

18. Resources and Tech Tools

19. & 20. Certification & Exam

Total estimated completion time: 25 contact hours (2.5 AOTA CEU)

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Instructional Methods

Self-paced, asynchronous online learning including recorded video lectures, interactive case studies, reflection questions, and self-assessment quizzes. Optional add-on for live, interactive components.

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AOTA CEUs and Contact Hours

The Dementia Collaborative is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# [PENDING]. This distance learning - independent course is offered at 2.5 CEUs, intermediate educational level, category: Foundational Knowledge, OT Service Delivery, and Professional Issues. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

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Registration Information

If you require accommodations for accessibility or have special needs requests, please contact info@dementiacollaborative.com prior to registration.

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Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellations received within 7 days of registration and prior to course access will receive a full refund.
Once course materials have been accessed, refunds are not available.
In the unlikely event that The Dementia Collaborative cancels or discontinues the course, all registrants will be offered a full refund or course transfer.

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PD Activity Completion Requirements

To receive a certificate of completion and CE credit, learners must:

• Complete all modules in full

• Achieve a passing score of 80% or higher on the final assessment

• Submit the course evaluation

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The Dementia Collaborative LLC is an AOTA approved provider of professional development. Please view each individual course for specific CEU approval information.

The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.