Two of Fort Worth’s healthcare leaders – UNT Health Fort Worth and the James L. West Center for Dementia Care – have partnered to offer a free, online, self-paced dementia certification program.
The Dementia Specialist Certification microcredential program is designed to help address the growing shortage of dementia care workers while providing professional development opportunities for healthcare professionals and practical training for family caregivers.
The platform allows participants to earn a Dementia Specialist Certification through a series of self-paced online modules focused on dementia care and caregiving skills.
Along the way, participants earn stackable microcredentials, represented by digital badges, and continuing education credits as they progress through the program.
Microcredentials are short, focused one-hour learning experiences that allow participants to build specialized knowledge through coursework.
The need for trained dementia care professionals continues to grow as the nation’s population ages. According to the Alzheimer’s Association and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation could face a shortage of as many as 1 million dementia care workers by 2040.
For Gwen Lawless of Houston, the program has empowered her to better care for herself as she cares for her loved ones.
“As a senior citizen with experience in serving as a caregiver to my late husband who had FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) and now serving as a care partner to several family members and friends, I highly recommend this course to all present and future caregivers.”
John McKenzie, executive director of UNT Health’s Division of Academic Innovation, said the new microcredential program is addressing a community need.
“ We are planning and creating a solution for a challenge that is already deeply impacting communities across the country,” he said. “The demand for direct-care workers continues to grow, and preparing more caregivers through accessible education is one way we can help address that need.”
The partnership combines UNT Health’s expertise in health professions education with the James L. West Center’s decades of experience in dementia care and caregiver education to provide evidence-informed instruction and practical training.
The flexible, self-paced program lets participants complete coursework on their own schedules.
“We are creating one-hour online modules that each provide continuing education credits,” said Jaime Cobb Tinsley, vice president of family and professional education at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care.
She adds, “By allowing participants to progress at their own pace, we are helping them continue their current responsibilities while advancing their knowledge and career opportunities.”
The program includes the following microcredentials that build on each other:
- Dementia Informed
- A three-course curriculum covering an introduction to dementia and caregiving, caregiver expectations, and collaborative care involving family members and individuals living with dementia.
- Dementia Skilled
- A two-course curriculum focused on communication strategies and residents’ rights, and understanding and responding to behavioral expressions associated with dementia.
- Dementia Advanced
- A three-course curriculum covering meaningful engagement, respectful communication with families, and individualized care approaches for each stage of dementia.
Participants who complete the certification pathway, including a skills assessment, will earn the Dementia Specialist Certification.
The certification helps professional caregivers demonstrate specialized dementia care training while giving family caregivers practical skills and greater confidence in caring for a loved one living with dementia.
Participants will learn what to expect as dementia progresses, build confidence in providing care, and develop practical techniques to improve everyday caregiving.
Continuing education eligibility varies by profession. Visit the program website for the most current accreditation and eligibility information.
For more information about the free Dementia Specialist Certification microcredential program, visit unthealth.edu/dementia or call 817-877-1199.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Grant No. U1QHP53050. UNT Health Fort Worth has received $3,026,744 of this five-year, $5,000,000 grant. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS. No commercial support was received for this activity.
About UNT Health
UNT Health Fort Worth, located in the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District, trains the health care providers, public health workforce, and scientists of the future in an interprofessional ecosystem. Through its four colleges — Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Professions, and College of Nursing — students learn to work in teams and develop an innovative mindset that prepares them for a rapidly changing health landscape. UNT Health Clinical Practice Group, the clinical enterprise of UNT Health, provides patient-centered care to people across Tarrant County. UNT Health’s research enterprise provides a foundation to expand the frontiers of scientific discovery to improve health and well-being.
About the James L. West Center for Dementia Care
For 33 years, the James L. West Center for Dementia Care has served individuals and families affected by dementia. Founded by Eunice West in memory of her husband, James L. West, the nonprofit organization provides residential care, a senior day program, short-term respite care, rehabilitation services, home care, and caregiver education. Its education initiative, Dementia-IQ Powered by James L. West, provides training and resources for professional and family caregivers.
