The Dementia Care Specialists training courses will focus primarily on the theoretical frameworks of the Cognitive Disabilities Model from Claudia Allen and The Theory of Retrogenesis from Dr. Barry Reisberg. There will be limited to no additional theories presented. This course will primarily focus on the functional cognitive assessments associated with the Cognitive Disabilities Model and will also provide limited information on assessments designed by Dr. Barry Reisberg. There will be limited to no additional cognitive assessments presented during this training session. The Dementia Care Specialists trainings will also describe person-centered care.

Instructional Personnel Disclosure Relative to Course Content

Kim Warchol, OTR/L

President of Dementia Care Specialists 
Kim has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist for over 22 years and she founded Dementia Care Specialists in 1999. Kim is an expert in the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model, and since 1999 she has educated over 5,000 therapists and other health care professionals on the best abilities approach to dementia evaluation, treatment, and programming. In addition, she has set up many dementia living environments and care programs using this model. Kim was instrumental in the advocacy effort which led to the 2001 CMS Memorandum prohibiting the denial of therapy services based solely on the diagnosis of dementia. Kim was a committee member which was responsible for creating the Illinois Dementia Care Unit Minimum Standards of Care. She was member of the AOTA Cognitive Disability Expert Panel, and Kim contributed to the development of the Dementia Care Guidelines for Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes published by the Alzheimer’s Association. She has authored several dementia care articles and she lectures nationally on various topics of dementia care and the aging.

Course(s) taught: Dementia Capable Care, 2^nd Edition training; Dementia Capable Care Specialist Credential Training

Financial Disclosure(s): Kim is a full-time, salaried Global Professional Instructor and President of Dementia Care Specialists (DCS), a CPI-specialized offering. CPI/DCS has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Illinois Chapter (AA-GIC) to deliver the highest quality of dementia care training to people working with those who have Alzheimer’s and related dementias through Dementia Capable Care: Foundation, Care Partner Applications, and Dementia Therapy Applications training programs. The AA-GIC provides space accommodations when programs are held at its Illinois location and refers training and scheduling interests to CPI/DCS.

Non-Financial Disclosure(s): Kim is a volunteer member of the Allen Cognitive Network (teaching and speaking) and a proponent of the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model. She also co-authored The Activity Planning Book; no royalties are received. This product is a part of and sold within the DCS product line. The Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Illinois Chapter advertises and promotes Dementia Capable Care: Foundation, Care Partner Applications, and Dementia Therapy Applications training programs on its website.

Sharon R. Host, OTR/L

Senior Consultant and Global Professional Instructor for Dementia Care Specialists
Sharon received a B.S. Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her specialty is geriatrics and she has many years of experience in the long-term care setting and the home health care industry. Sharon began her journey using the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model in 1999 and completed the Dementia Therapy Master Clinician Program in 2009. She has presented at AOTA on Pain Management in the Aging Population and at the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association (ALOTA) Conferences on patient positioning and documentation in the geriatric population. 

Course(s) taught: Dementia Capable Care, 2^nd Edition training; Dementia Capable Care Specialist Credential Training

Financial Disclosure(s): Sharon is a full-time, salaried Global Professional Instructor for Dementia Care Specialists, a CPI-sponsored specialized offering.

Non-Financial Disclosure(s): Sharon is a volunteer member and proponent of the Allen Cognitive Network and the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model.

Lesley Rynders

Manager of Training Operations and Global Professional Instructor
Lesley Rynders has experience as case manager and a professional trainer. Lesley has worked in various departments in long-term care which have provided her with resident and family interaction. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work and has extensive experience in training staff members at all levels. Her skills and practical experience in facilitating groups and engaging adults provide for the maximum adult learning opportunity at her workshops and training courses. She has worked as a Global Professional Instructor for CPI for 19 years.

Course(s) taught: Dementia Capable Care, 2^nd Edition training

Financial Disclosure(s): Lesley is a full-time, salaried Global Professional Instructor for Dementia Care Specialists (DCS), a CPI-specialized offering.

Non-Financial Disclosure(s): None to report.

Sharon Jackson

Senior Consultant and Global Professional Instructor for Dementia Care Specialists
Dementia consultant Sharon Jackson has a degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology and she has worked in long-term care/skilled rehab since 1998. Her professional experience includes working as a program designer to integrate the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model into nursing to enhance the care of residents with dementia. In addition, she has served as a manager of a Memory Care Household, an Activity Designer, and an Activity Manager. She believes that ongoing education can help you raise the standard of care for people with cognitive impairments. Consulting and educating are her passion, with specialization and focus on adaptation of Activities and ADL care to match the individual's best ability to function. Sharon Jackson is the past president of the Allen Cognitive Network. She has served on the board since 2007 and was the president for two terms.

Course(s) taught: Dementia Capable Care, 2^nd Edition training; Dementia Capable Care Specialist Credential Training

Financial Disclosure(s): Sharon is a full-time, salaried Global Professional Instructor and Consultant for Dementia Care Specialists (DCS), a CPI-specialized offering.

Non-Financial Disclosure(s): Sharon is a volunteer member and proponent of the Allen Cognitive Network and the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model.

Michael Hendricks, Multimedia Specialist

Narrator
Michael is the Multimedia Specialist for Crisis Prevention Institute and provides voice-over narration for the Dementia Capable Care Course online course. Michael also writes, directs, shoots, and edits online course content and instructor presentations for Crisis Prevention Institute. Since January of 2022, Michael has also been an Adjunct Professor of Digital Media at Marquette University where he reviews, evaluates, and provides feedback on student stories, guiding them to more effective narratives.

Course(s) taught: Dementia Capable Care, 2^nd Edition training; Dementia Capable Care Specialist Credential Training

Financial Disclosure(s): Michael is a full-time, salaried Multimedia specialist, at Crisis Prevention Institute.