Illinois Cognitive Resources Network

Connecting to resources throughout your dementia journey

Subscribe to ICRN E-News blasts

IDOA Dementia Care Specialist Training Dates Announced

Trainer Contact Information

Phyllis Roate 

Illinois Department on Aging

One Natural Resources Way

Springfield, IL  62703

phyllis.roate@illinois.gov or (217) 785-5291       

Training Description

The goal of this training is to provide non-clinical aging network staff with the knowledge and resources to more effectively assist persons with dementia and their caregivers. 

The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) has established six core competencies (in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Advisory Committee) for Dementia Care Specialists.  The training curriculum will utilize a blended format of both on-line and in person classroom sessions, based on the following core competencies:

  1. Knowledge of Dementia
  2. Safety for People with Dementia
  3. Communicating with People with Dementia
  4. Behavioral Expressions
  5. Person-Centered Planning
  6. Resources (classroom only)

Each potential Dementia Care Specialist (DCS) will be required to complete both the pre-test and webinars before participating in the classroom portion of the training.  The webinars will provide general information in the form of PowerPoint presentations, videos and interactive websites; the classroom sessions will provide practical, everyday application of the webinar materials in the form of lecture, discussion, case scenarios and role playing.  The first classroom session will cover the first three webinars (see above) and the second classroom session will cover points 4, 5, and 6 (see above).  Post-tests will be given at the conclusion of each classroom session. 

Upon completion of all of the training components, each DCS will receive a certificate of completion, which may be used for in-service training.   

Training Schedule

  • Introductory telephone conference. 

Each trainee must participate in one of the scheduled telephone conferences.  The times/dates are:

            Tuesday, October 29, 2019                          11:00 am – 12:00 pm

            Wednesday, October 30, 2019                     10:00 am – 11:00 am

            Thursday, October 31, 2019                        1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

            Friday, November 1, 2019                            2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

  • Pre and post-tests

Following participation in the introductory telephone conference, each trainee must complete the pre-test and scan it to the trainer before receiving access to the webinars.  A post test will be administered at the conclusion of each in-person classroom session.

  • In-person classroom sessions:

Each trainee must complete two in-person classroom sessions:

Chicago Area:

AgeOptions, Inc.

1048 Lake Street, Suite 300

Oak Park, IL  60301

Friday, November 22, 2019, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Monday, December 16, 2019 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Downstate:

Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce

200 Potomac Blvd.

Mt. Vernon, IL  62864

Monday, November 18, 2019, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Monday, December 9, 2019 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.  I am looking forward to working with each of you.

Last Updated on April 28, 2020

Published by Chrishun Brown

Communications Manager for the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.