Dementia is one of the most pressing health challenges. It affects more than 55 million people worldwide, a number that may almost triple by 2050. Families, communities, and health systems need providers prepared to deliver high-quality care in all settings at every stage of dementia.
Nurses are essential to this response because they provide much of the direct care for people with dementia. They can also hold important roles in administration and management in health care, public health, and the community. However, dementia education is not required for nurses and not everyone has access to it. We want to provide free, thorough training that helps nurses deliver expert, whole-person care and prepares them for a range of professional roles.
Dementia Scholars Program Overview
The DPEN Dementia Scholars Program is led by Drs. Tatiana Sadak, Soo Borson, and Christina Coulter and includes 10 core and 13 supplemental modules. They are designed to prepare registered nurses and nursing students with expert, scientific, and clinically relevant knowledge of dementia care.
The curriculum is built on Dr. Borson’s Six Domains of Health Model. This framework encourages proactive thinking by addressing cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical health and function; caregiver capacity and needs; health-related social needs; and care delivery and health system organizational factors that influence care delivery.
Nurses trained in this model learn to:
- Engage patients, families, and communities in meaningful partnerships
- Organize care that prioritizes dignity, access, and quality of life
- Navigate and manage risks associated with medical complexity
- Understand and address health system challenges
Examples of DPEN Curriculum modules include:
- Introduction to Comprehensive Dementia Care for Nurses
- The Older Adult Population
- Dementia as a Disease
- Medical Management of Dementia
- Medical Management in the Context of Dementia
- Mood and Behavior Management in People Living with Dementia Part 1: Detection and Assessment
- Mood and Behavior Management in People Living with Dementia Part 2: Management and Education
- Care Partner Needs and Self-Care
- Care Partner Education about Medical Management
- Pulling it All Together: Care Planning
View the free Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) sponsored module, narrated by Dr. Soo Borson.
View other free trainings by DPEN team members on the CHSIE’s webpage under Ambulatory Care Nursing Modules.
How to Get Involved with DPEN Education
If you are interested in partnering with DPEN to offer the the Dementia Scholars Program to nursing students or practicing nurses, please fill out our DPEN Curriculum Interest Form.
You can download the UW DPEN curriculum infographic to learn more and share with your network.
Piloting the DPEN Curriculum
From March 2023 to February 2024, DPEN partnered with Emory University’s Nurse-run Integrated Memory Care Clinic to pilot the Dementia Care Certificate training for nurses currently in the workforce as part of the Reimagining Nursing Initiative.
From January to June 2025, DPEN pilot tested the Dementia Scholars Program with practicing nurses and nursing students across several locations. View the preliminary pilot results for the DPEN Dementia Scholars program.
Our Sponsors
DPEN Education is supported by The Macy Foundation.
