Transforming quality dementia care
Quality dementia care begins with a strong foundation of principles and practices rooted in person-centered care. The Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations were developed to provide evidence-based care practices for professional care providers who work with individuals living with dementia and their families in residential and community based care settings to transform the quality of care received. These practice recommendations serve as the foundation for professional training and an individual certification program recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Association is committed to helping providers apply the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations into everyday care by expanding the number of high quality professional training programs available. Through the new curriculum review and essentiALZ certification program, providers will have more choice and flexibility to train their staff and recognize their knowledge of quality person-centered dementia care.
To stay informed regarding the launch of the curriculum review and essentiALZ certification program, please complete this interest form.
Curriculum review
The curriculum review process allows care provider organizations and training companies to submit their professional training programs for review against five topic areas of the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations to assure content reflects the latest evidence describing person-centered quality dementia care for direct care workers. If approved, staff who are trained with recognized curricula will be eligible for essentiALZ certification and recognition by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Curriculum will be reviewed against these topic areas of the practice recommendations:
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Alzheimer's disease and Dementia
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Person-Centered Care
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Assessment and Care Planning
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Activities of Daily Living
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Dementia-Related Behaviors and Communication
essentiALZ® certification
Developed for professional care providers of individuals living with dementia, Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ is an individual certification program that provides recognition for knowledge of quality dementia care practices. Participants become essentiALZ-certified by completing curriculum approved by the Alzheimer’s Association and passing the essentiALZ online certification exam, which tests understanding of evidence-based dementia care practices that are outlined in the Dementia Care Practice Recommendations.
Currently recognized curricula
The following curricula meets select topics of the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations. See our essentiALZ Certification Program page for information on recognized trainings eligible for essentiALZ certification.