*NEW* Keep the Ball Going: Ensuring Effective Communication Along the Journey of Dementia

Explore tips and strategies for how to effectively communicate with a dementia patient while using all five senses through each stage of the patient’s disease.

All States: Accredited for RNs, LVNs, SWs*, LPCs, CCMs, and ACMs
Certified for PTs and OTs in Texas.
*Not accredited for SWs in New York

Content Level: Intermediate
Format: Reading-Based Asynchronous Distance Learning

About the authors: Emily Briggs, OTR/L and Laurie Walther, MS, CCC-SLP

Emily is a nationally certified, Texas licensed Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, independent living, memory care, and home health. Her experience has ranged from staff therapist to single-site director of rehabilitation to multi-site clinical program management. Over the years, she has mentored and trained therapists of all disciplines, other healthcare professionals, and family members on best care practices, clinical programming, and regulatory requirements. Emily is a Certified Independent Trainer with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care. She loves teaching and mentoring individuals and groups with a focus on empowering them to care WITH those living with dementia.

Laurie is an ASHA certified, Texas licensed Speech Language Pathologist with over 26 years of experience primarily in the Skilled Nursing setting. Laurie is a Certified Independent Trainer with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care. She has served as a mentor and leader to her partners, corporate members, staff clinicians, families and caregivers, and patients and residents. She has created many clinical, educational and operational programs that have been carried out at the community level, corporate wide, nationally and internationally. Laurie has been a staff clinician, clinical leader, director of rehab, regional director, and senior vice president. She loves teaching, mentoring and leading individuals to maximize their best to support those we serve.

After attending this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify 3 changes in a patient’s or client’s ability to communicate as their dementia progresses.
• Determine 3 tips for maximizing communication with a person living with dementia.
• Describe 3 factors that may further impact a person’s ability to communicate when impaired by dementia

Course Completion Requirements: This course is in a written format, and your certificate will be available for download immediately after successful completion of the post-test and evaluation. A score of 80% or greater is required to pass, and you may re-take the post-test if needed up to 3 times.

*Individual Purchase Refund Policy: If the course has not been completed, we can refund the full amount within 15 days of purchase.
*Group Event Refund Policy: If the event has not occurred, we can refund the full amount within 15 days of purchase.

Approval Statements:

Nurses – HIS Cornerstone is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. (Expires 11/5/2027)
Social Workers: HIS Cornerstone, provider #2082, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 03/25/2025–03/25/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 general continuing education credit.
ACMA and CCMC Case Managers: This program fits the description of an ACMA approved CE because it has been awarded contact hour(s) by HIS Cornerstone, a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. As of July 1, 2020 CCMC recognizes ACMA’s continuing education offerings to meet the requirements of the Certified Case Manager (CCM) credential. 
Physical Therapists/PTAs: This activity has been approved by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 1.00 CCUs for PTs and PTAs. (Expires 3/31/2027)
Occupational Therapists/OTAs: The TOTA Continuing Education Review Committee has approved this course for the following continuing education units (CEUs): 1 contact hour / 1.0 CEUs of OT Education. (Expires 3/31/2026)

Please contact mtaylor@hiscornerstone.com for ADA accommodations or if you have any questions, concerns, or grievances about this course.

Last Reviewed February 5, 2025