The Dementia Roadmap: Staging, Communication and Swallowing Across the Continuum

More than 7 million Americans are currently living with dementia. That number is projected to nearly double by 2060. Dementia is among the leading causes of disabilities and dependency in older adults. In 2026, health and long-term care costs for people living with dementia are projected to exceed $409 billion in the United States, with costs expected to approach $1 trillion by 2050. Complications from dementiasuch as falls, aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration significantly impact patient outcomes and cost to post-acute care facilities. Healthcare facilities with dementia specific programs see lower rates of hospitalization and complications. As clinicians across rehabilitation settings encounter dementia with increasing frequency,understanding how communication, cognition, and swallowing change across the disease continuum is essential for delivering effective, person-centered care. This course provides a practical roadmap to dementia staging, equipping clinicians with evidence-based strategies to recognize stage-specific changes, tailor interventions and enhance patient and caregiver outcomes. Whether you work in skilled nursing, acute care, home health or outpatient rehabilitation, you'll leave with tools you can implement immediately to navigate the dementia journey with greater confidence. Join us to transform your approach to dementia care one stage at a time.

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists

Delivery Format: Synchronous, Live interactive webinar to be attended online on a specific date/time

Highlights

• Improve clinical decision-making by recognizing dementia progression and implementing stage-specific communication and swallowing interventions that supportsafer, more effective person-centered care
• Support better patient outcomes by applying evidence- based interdisciplinary strategies that can help reducepreventable complications and address the growing clinical and financial burden of dementia care