Dementia Safety Specialist™

Description

Dementia Safety Specialist™ (DSS)Creating Safer, Supportive Homes for Those Living with DementiaCaring for someone with dementia presents unique challenges—especially when it comes to safety at home. Cognitive changes can affect memory, judgment, coordination, and awareness of surroundings, turning everyday spaces into potential hazards. This 2-1/2 hr. comprehensive five-module training course is designed to equip professionals, care partners, and service providers with the practical knowledge and confidence to assess and improve home safety for individuals living with dementia.Whether you work in healthcare, home modification, social services, senior care, or are a dedicated family caregiver, this course delivers actionable strategies grounded in compassion, evidence-based design, and real-world experience. Participants will learn to identify risks, recommend modifications, communicate effectively with families, and support autonomy and dignity through safe environments.Course ModulesModule 1: Understanding Dementia and Cognitive DeclineGain foundational knowledge of dementia types, symptoms, and progression. This module explores how dementia affects perception, mobility, memory, and reasoning—and why these changes make home safety a critical concern.Module 2: Home Safety Risks and AssessmentLearn how to recognize and evaluate common hazards in the home, including those related to fall risk, fire safety, mobility, and confusion. This module introduces structured assessment tools to help identify and prioritize safety concerns for individuals living with dementia.Module 3: Interior and Exterior Safety MeasuresTake a guided walkthrough of practical solutions for enhancing safety throughout the home—inside and out. This includes lighting, flooring, entryways, bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor areas, and transitions between spaces.Module 4: Hazardous Materials and Emergency PreparednessExplore how to reduce exposure to dangerous items such as cleaning products, medications, tools, and kitchen appliances. This module also addresses planning for power outages, natural disasters, and medical emergencies in dementia households.Module 5: Wandering and Support ServicesUnderstand the risks and patterns of wandering behavior, how to reduce elopement incidents, and the technologies and community services that can help. You’ll also learn how to connect families with appropriate support networks and local resources.Who Should Take This Course?• Healthcare professionals and therapists• Aging-in-place and home modification specialists• Social workers and case managers• Senior service providers• Family and professional caregivers• Anyone supporting individuals living with dementiaBy the end of this training, you’ll be prepared to identify risks, apply practical solutions, and be a trusted resource in creating safer, more supportive homes for those living with dementia.***This training is highly recommended to pair with the full Senior Home Safety Specialist® certification (https://agesafe.talentlms.com) Learn More here: https://agesafeamerica.com/certifications/