LIVONIA, MI – According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease—5.2 million aged 65 and over. By 2050, it is estimated that up to 16 million Americans will have this devastating disease.  The incidence and expected growth of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is alarming and demands educated professionals to care for this population.
In response, the Continuing Education and Professional Development department of Schoolcraft College, in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association–Greater Michigan Chapter (www.alz.org/gmc), is offering a new Dementia Care Certificate for professionals working with people living with dementia. This unique partnership allows the Alzheimer’s Association’s professional classes to be conveniently delivered through Schoolcraft College.
To earn a Dementia Care Certificate, participants must successfully complete five required classes and two elective classes totaling 16–19 hours of coursework.   Required classes include: Fundamentals of Dementia Care, Making Meaningful Connections, Pain Management, Making the Most of Mealtime, and Understanding Safe & Unsafe Wandering.  Elective classes include: Remove Restraints to Maximize Freedom, Team Building & Leading Your Care Team, Care at the End of Life, and Minimizing Fall Risks. 
“We are really excited about this new certificate program.  This training can be useful for professionals in all fields who interact with persons with dementia,” says Jennifer Bodurka, Programming Coordinator.  Some professions that could benefit from this training include: nursing, social workers, pharmacists, physicians, social services, occupational/speech and physical therapists, home health aides, personal care assistants, dietitians, massage and aroma therapists, recreation and activities professionals, music and art therapists, dentist and dental hygienist,  EMT, paramedic, assisted living staff and more.
There are no pre-requisites required for the Dementia Care Certificate. The dementia care classes are designed to accommodate all levels of education and experience, from entry level professionals to those with extensive experience in healthcare.
Registration is currently underway for the Dementia Care Certificate program and classes begin September 18, 2012. For more information on this non-credit certificate program, go to www.schoolcraft.edu/cepd/dementia or call the Continuing Education and Professional Development office at 734-462-4448.
Schoolcraft College is a public two-year college, offering classes at the main campus in Livonia, at the Radcliff Center in Garden City, and online at www.schoolcraft.edu.