Younger woman supporting and smiling with an older woman with dementia who is seated and pointing out a window, with a text overlay that reads “Dementia Care Training Across the Healthcare Continuum Is a MUST.”

Dementia Care Training Across the Healthcare Continuum Is a MUST

Edith experiences good and bad days as she shows moderate signs of dementia. Today, her words are just a jumble of sounds that seem to mock her. “Mom, what are you trying to say?” her daughter Lily asked. But the more Edith tried, the less Lily understood, and all Edith could do was scream in frustration. Families are the backbone—and they’re stretched thin. In 2024, 11.9 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided 19.2 billion hours of care in the U.S., averaging 31 hours per week per caregiver. The economic value of this unpaid care was $413.5 billion—more than the revenues of many Fortune 500 companies combined (Alzheimer’s Association, 2025).

The scale of need is undeniable. In the United States, an estimated 7.2 million adults aged 65 and older are expected to be living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2025, and nearly two-thirds of them are women (Alzheimer’s Association, 2025). Globally, dementia affects approximately 57 million people. In 2021, with nearly 10 million new cases each year, this trend is expected to continue adding strain to families and health systems for decades (WHO, 2025).

Because of the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), healthcare professionals and support staff are encountering individuals living with dementia in various care environments. These include not only long-term or adult day care facilities but also other healthcare settings such as emergency rooms, urgent care clinics, acute or intensive care units, doctors’ offices, rehabilitation or therapy centers, as well as non-healthcare locations like churches, restaurants, stores, and neighborhoods.

In 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the GUIDE model to promote and support improved dementia care. Many individuals who are working or caring for someone with dementia have little to no training in dementia care, and these figures are concerning. The goal of the GUIDE model is to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with dementia by offering improved education, support, and respite services. To learn more about this program, please click here: CMS GUIDE Model.

GUIDE Model Overview Fact Sheet from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), outlining the model’s purpose to improve quality of life for people with dementia, reduce caregiver burden, and prevent or delay long-term nursing home care.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). GUIDE Model Overview Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/guide-model-overview-fs.pdf

Comprehensive competency-based training in dementia care that equips staff with the tools to anticipate needs, prevent crises, and collaborate with families is not only the right thing to do; it also reduces significant stress on caregivers and care facilities alike.

What Effective Training Looks Like

  1. Training should focus on the person-centered frameworks that decode “behavior” as communication, emphasize unmet-need assessment, and prioritize non-pharmacologic interventions before medications.
  2. Skill rehearsal, not just awareness—e.g., cueing, validation, redirection, environmental adaptations, and safe mobility techniques that reduce falls and elopement risk.
  3. Family-inclusive communication protocols so staff can set expectations, share care plans, and coach caregivers through challenging transitions.
  4. Ongoing refreshers mapped to roles (direct care, nursing, activities, dining, housekeeping, leadership) to sustain behavior change and meet regulatory expectations. Emerging reviews recommend scaling Train-the-Trainer models to embed learning in daily practice.

In 2024, The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association released the results of a systematic review of competency-based dementia training, which highlighted what these training curricula look like and their benefits. For the detailed report, please click here: Dementia Training Systematic Review 2024.

Why Structured Training Matters for Organizations

  • Quality & safety: Purpose-built dementia education enhances staff ability to recognize symptoms, customize interactions, and prevent avoidable complications in hospitals and long-term care. Programs that identify cognitive impairment early and teach practical skills have been proven to improve patient experience and reduce hospital-acquired complications. Studies also demonstrate reductions in the prescription of antipsychotic drugs.
  • Workforce confidence and retention: Studies of competency-based curricula show improvements in dementia knowledge and communication skills among home- and hospital-based staff, which are key drivers of morale and retention in high-stress environments.
  • Family partnership: Focused training for nurse care managers enhanced the quality of care conversations with people living with dementia (PLWD) and family caregivers. This is the kind of engagement that reduces escalations and promotes aging in place.
  • Policy alignment & reimbursement: Dementia care education increases the compliance of state and government regulations; for example, the CMS GUIDE Model (launched July 1, 2024) elevates coordinated, comprehensive dementia care, including support for unpaid caregivers.

Why Healthcare Professionals and Leaders Must Lead the Way

As care professionals and leaders in assisted living and long-term care, we stand at the intersection of safety, dignity, and operational excellence. Dementia care training isn’t just a “nice to have, it’s an ethical and business necessity driven to enable teams to provide consistent, person-centered, evidence-based care, optimize outcomes, reduce costly hospital readmissions, and build trust with families. Additionally, by integrating dementia-informed practices into organizational culture, facilities are better positioned to meet changing regulatory expectations, attract discerning families, and enhance overall care quality in a quickly aging society.

The bottom line is that with the rising prevalence of ADRA and caregivers carrying a $400-billion-plus burden, dementia training is one of the highest-leverage investments you can make for yourself and your institution.

Lead the change in dementia care.
Equip your staff with the knowledge, empathy, and best practices to provide person-centered care that meets both ethical and regulatory standards.
Enroll your team in the Dementia Care Excellence Certificate Program today.
➡️ Get Started

Professional headshot of a smiling woman in a dark blazer with shoulder-length dark hair.
Author: Angie Jung, Chief Education Liaison & Nurse Planner

References

  1. Alzheimer’s Association. 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures (prevalence; caregiver counts, hours, and economic value). https://www.alz.org/getmedia/ef8f48f9-ad36-48ea-87f9-b74034635c1e/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
  2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model overview (2024–2032). https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide
  3. The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Competency-based training boosts dementia knowledge and skills in home care workers. Oct. 2024. https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/alz.70323?utm=
  4. Weiner J, et al. JAMDA (2023): State dementia-training requirements linked to reduced antipsychotic use and restraints in nursing homes; USC Schaeffer summary. https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610%2823%2900903-9/fulltext
  5. World Health Organization. Dementia Fact Sheet (global burden; annual new cases). Updated Mar 31, 2025. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia

 

 

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