Professional Training

Build Your Credentials in Alzheimer's and Dementia Care

With our expertise in dementia care, Insight offers professional training and CEU opportunities open to any individual healthcare professionals, senior service providers, or others who wish to further their education!

 

What are the Options?

Individual Training Opportunities

Insight offers several training options; each course is offered several times a year. Training is open to all individuals, but geared towards those in the healthcare and aging services fields to build skills and knowledge. Popular options are listed below.

Virtual Dementia Tour

(offered in-person only)
The Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT) is designed to help simulate the effects of dementia. A trained facilitator will guide participants outfitted with patented devices that alter their senses while they try to complete common everyday tasks and exercises. The Tour enables caregivers to experience for themselves the physical and mental challenges those with dementia face, and use the experience to provide better person-centered care.

Please contact Nina to set up a VDT program at nina.davis@insightmcc.org.

 

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar

Take the path to certification as a Certified Dementia Practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners! All health care professionals and front line staff who work in the health care industry are encouraged to attend. This is the required seminar for those pursuing CDP certification, to qualify through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.

 

Dementia Capable Care Specialist Training

Dementia Capable Care (DCC) Training gives you the tools needed to be the best caregiver for those living at different stages of dementia. This training focuses on practical solutions to preventing and de-escalating behaviors, through online learning and an in-person session to address common scenarios.

This course is offered in a hybrid format. You are required to complete 4 hours of on-demand virtual training prior to the scheduled session. The 4 hour in-person session will reinforce and build on skills from the virtual training, helping apply what you learned through practical examples. Upon completion of the full training, participants will earn the Dementia Capable Care Specialist Credential (DCCS).

 

Group Training Options

Looking to set up a training opportunity for your staff or organization? Review our group training options!

 
 
 

Meet the Trainer

Professional Training Facilitator

Melissa Long, CTRS, CDP, CADDCT, BF-CMT, DCCS, DCC-CI, Director of Education and Support

Melissa is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation and Leisure Studies and a minor in Health Studies. Melissa is a certified recreational therapist, certified dementia practitioner and educator, certified best friends dementia trainer, certified dementia capable care specialist and trainer. and a Licensed BCAT® practitioner.  

Melissa has been providing care to older adults for over 20 years. She is also the recipient of the ATRA Frank L. Basile Clinician of the Year 2016, 2024 Pride in Our Community Leader of Loudoun County Pride, and National Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Trainer (CADDCT) of 2024. She has presented at numerous conferences and has published evidence-based practice programing.  

She has had the opportunity to live in Romania and provide sensory integration for orphans. She also held the position of Social Coordinator for participants in the Cerebral Palsy - International Sports and Recreation Association (CP- ISRA) World Championship. Through Melissa’s experience both clinically and in the community, she brings and provides out of the box thinking and support to both clients and caregivers daily.