The Graduate Certificate in Dementia (CDEM) is a program designed to accommodate the practical needs of several professional groups, including nurses, social workers, dietitians, interior designers, psychologists, occupational and speech therapists, health care administrators, and music and recreational therapists. It is also intended for graduate-level students who are interested in learning more about clinical and leadership issues in Alzheimer’s care and related illnesses. This 12-13 credit hour multidisciplinary Graduate Certificate program provides a theoretical framework and practical grounding in working with families and persons with dementia, in the home, community-based programs, and 24-hour care settings. The program focuses on the social psychology of dementia; the changes that occur in the person with dementia, changes in how they communicate, and ways they compensate throughout the states of dementia. Students learn techniques to accommodate for these changes. Major themes of this program center on ongoing assessment of the person and his/her environment and the development of supportive interventions to increase the well-being of the person with dementia.

Fieldwork Opportunities

A unique feature of this program is the fieldwork experiences that have been integrated into most courses. Assignments are customized, enabling students from different disciplines to complete projects in their own work settings. The Alzheimer’s Education Program team makes on-site visits, when feasible, to see students’ work in progress and to offer concrete feedback and mentoring. The instructional team is committed to individualizing projects so that students can explore challenging issues in more depth in their own work settings. This hands-on approach to learning enables students to refine their clinical and leadership skills and to become more effective clinicians/administrators.

The Alzheimer’s Education Program has affiliations with several local clinical programs, including Huron Woods, a residential dementia care program located on the campus of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association, and The Silver Club, an adult day program designed specifically for persons with dementia.

Scholarship Opportunities

Several scholarships — the Edna Gates Scholarship in Dementia Care, the Mary Schroder Scholarship, and the Sarah Graf Scholarship — are available to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Dementia program. Awards are generally granted for the fall term.