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Certification Program
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Do you provide care for someone with dementia or Alzheimer's?

Get trained. Get certified. It's essentiALZ®

 
     


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About essentiALZ Certification Topics Recognition Opportunities Approved Training Courses


About essentiALZ


Alzheimer’s Association® essentiALZ® is an online individual dementia care certification program that provides recognition for knowledge of quality dementia care practices.


The essentiALZ exam tests knowledge of evidence-based dementia care practices that are promoted in the nationally recognized Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and supported by more than 30 leading health and senior care organizations.


About essentiALZ Plus


essentiALZ Plus requires more in-depth knowledge of Alzheimer’s care techniques and specialties. Individuals must be certified in essentiALZ prior to taking any of the essentiALZ Plus exams.


Certification Topics

The Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ certification program combines approved dementia care training with Alzheimer’s Association online certification exams. EssentiALZ offers two levels of certification— essentiALZ and essentiALZ Plus.


Specialty: Dementia Basics

Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ

Topics Covered in this exam:

  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia
  • Understanding Behavior
  • Communication
  • Person-centered Care
 

Approved Training

CARES® Dementia Basics™

Test Drive   Purchase

 

Specialty:  Dementia Advanced Care

Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ Plus Dementia Advanced Care

Topics Covered in this exam:

  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia
  • Understanding Behavior
  • Communication
  • Person-centered Care
  • Making a Connection
  • Eating Well
  • Recognizing Pain
  • Minimizing Falls
  • Rethinking Wandering
  • Minimizing Restraints
 

Approved Training

CARES® Dementia
Advanced Care™

Test Drive   Purchase

 


Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ Plus

Specialty: Dementia-Related Behavior

Topics Covered in this exam:

  • Introduction to dementia-related behaviors
  • Using the CARES® approach to dementia-related behaviors
  • Breaking down the CARES® approach
  • Key responses to dementia-related behavior
 

Approved Training

CARES® Dementia-Related Behavior™

Test Drive   Purchase

 


Requirements/pricing

Individuals 16 years and older* can qualify to take essentiALZ certification exams upon successful completion of select CARES® online dementia care training courses.

*unless other age requirement are mandated by state laws, rules or regulations.


Recognition Opportunities

Because you care, learn and be recognized.

Be prepared. Learn basic, specialized, and advanced techniques as well as evidence-based practices to help you provide care to people with dementia.

Feel confident. As an essentiALZ-certified care provider you can be confident that you are equipped with knowledge and techniques from leaders in the dementia care field.

Earn recognition. Upon successful completion of an approved dementia care course and an essentiALZ certification exam, you will receive your essentiALZ certification.

 

Individual Recognition Tips

  • Print and display your certificate
  • Add essentiALZ certification to your resume
  • Wear your pin (coming soon!)

Company Recognition Tips

  • Recognize essentiALZ certified employees in your company newsletter
  • Create an ‘honor roll’ to celebrate employees who are essentiALZ certified

 

Approved Training Courses

CARES CARES®

  • CARES online training, developed collaboratively by the Alzheimer’s Association and HealthCare Interactive®, is a person-centered, easy-to-remember approach to caring for an individual with dementia at any stage of the disease.
  • The CARES training modules use a wide variety of interactive techniques, featuring demonstrations by real CNAs and staff members working with actual people living with dementia.
  • CARES® Dementia Basics & Advanced Care™ is one of three trainings recommended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for long term care facilities to meet new nursing aide training requirements put forth as part of Section 6121 of the Affordable Care Act.
  • CEUs are available for CARES Dementia Basics & Advanced Care online training.
  • ”Test drive” CARES online training for free at hcinteractive.com/TestDriveCares.

For convenience, purchase and completion of the CARES online training provides immediate access to the appropriate essentiALZ exam at no additional cost. Prices start at $24.95/per person and site licenses are available.

Link to pricing grid.




For more information, email essentialz@alz.org.




 


Alzheimer's Association

Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's
Formed in 1980, the Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research.