Welcome to the course Connections in Care: Understanding Dementia and Beyond Building trust, safety, and comfort for people with complex needs!
This course is guided by the lived voices of people who are living with dementia and co-occurring conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). The wisdom shared through these voices shapes every section of the course and reminds you of one essential truth: relationships are the heart of care.
In this course, you’ll learn how to build meaningful relationships—relationships that honor identity, respect emotions, and create space for connection in everyday moments.
In both life and dementia support, relationships bring everything together. Just like an umbrella offers shelter and protection, relationships provide the support and structure you need for every tool, choice, and perspective in care. They make trust, understanding, and safety possible—no matter the diagnosis, stage, or other health conditions. Under the “umbrella” of relationships are the skills you use, the changes you make, and the attitudes you carry. These help you connect with and support people living with dementia in ways that are respectful, welcoming, and truly human.
Before you begin, you’ll meet members of the National Council of Dementia Minds (NCDM), the first U.S. nonprofit organization founded and governed entirely by people living with dementia. Their leadership and insights have shaped this training, offering authentic perspectives on what truly supports and uplifts daily life. The experiences they share reflect both the possibilities and the challenges of building relationships that honor identity and foster connection.
Now that you’ve been introduced to the voices at the heart of this training, it’s important to take a moment to understand how the course is designed.
Throughout this course, you’ll see different features to help stay engaged and connect more meaningfully with the material:
“Pro Tip” will offer practical suggestions directly from people with lived experience.
“Let’s Listen” will provide real-life examples and grounding moments that bring key
concepts to life.
“Deeper Dives” will invite thoughtful reflection on how new insights apply to your own role or past experiences.
You’ll also see extra tools like short videos, quizzes, and handouts that make learning easier, more practical, and ready to use in daily care.
Supervisor Tip: Getting the Most Out of This Training
This course offers more than lessons—it provides practical tools you can use right away. Videos, handouts, quizzes, and other resources are designed to connect concepts directly to real situations. Handouts can be used during shift huddles, staff meetings, or as quick refreshers. Encourage your team to try a few strategies at a time, reflect on what works, and share insights in conversation. With regular
practice and open dialogue, learning becomes part of daily care—strengthening communication, relationships, and support for people living with dementia and complex needs.
This is a journey toward care that feels less like a checklist and more like a partnership—built on trust, empathy, and shared humanity. Let’s step into it together..
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