Introduction
Florida is home to one of the largest senior populations in the country, and with that comes a growing number of older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
According to The Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI), Florida has the second-highest incidence of Alzheimer’s disease – the most common type of dementia – in the country. There were approximately 720,000 Floridians living with the disease in 2025. These statistics do not even include other forms of dementia that are less common but also prevalent in Florida.
Many families are navigating the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory care. With this process, having a knowledgeable, empathetic guide can make all the difference. Thus, it is more important than ever for senior advisors in Florida to be trained as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDPs).
Having a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) certification equips Florida senior living advisors with specialized skills. CDPs can better support clients and families through their memory care journey.
What is a Certified Dementia Practitioner?
A Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) is a senior care professional who has undergone extensive, comprehensive training in the field of dementia care and is dedicated to excellence in memory care. CDPs are also committed to ongoing professional development in the dementia care field. This enables them to stay up to date on latest research findings and best practices.
Credentialing Body
The credentialing body that oversees CDP certification is the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP).
This organization also offers certifications in over a dozen other areas including:
- Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer®
- Personal Care and Home Care Professional Certification (CPCHCP®)
- Certified First Responder – Dementia Trained (CFR-DT)
- Certified Dementia Volunteer Certification (CDV™)
Who Can Be a Certified Dementia Practitioner?
CDP training is open to a wide range of professions in the following industries (who have at least one full year of paid experience in the field):
- Healthcare
- Senior living
- Social services
- Senior services industries
CDPs usually work directly with seniors affected by dementia and their families, or are involved in their advocacy, care, or support.
Common professions for CDPs in the healthcare field include:
- Registered Nurses (RNs)
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)
- Physicians – especially those who specialize in geriatrics, neurology, or psychiatry
- Occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), and speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
- Home health aides/caregivers
Common professions for CDPs in the senior living or long-term care field include:
- Memory care directors and staff
- Assisted living and skilled nursing administrators
- Activities directors
- Resident care coordinators
- Geriatric care managers
Common professions for CDPs in the social services field include:
- Social workers
- Case managers
- Counselors and therapists – especially those who specialize in aging or memory loss
- Psychologists
Common professions for CDPs in the general senior services field include:
- Senior living advisors, like those at Florida Senior Consulting Advisors
- Hospice care coordinators
- Clergy involved in healthcare settings
What Training Do Certified Dementia Practitioners Have?
Certified Dementia Practitioners receiving training in the following areas, among others:
- Effective communication strategies
- Methods for aiding patients in daily activities
- Typical triggers for hostile, sundowning, and repeated behaviors in seniors
- Behavior management techniques
- Progression of dementia-related illnesses
- Tools to practice compassion, respect, and patience when working with persons with dementia
- Alternative activity interventions that are success-oriented and failure-free
- Preservation of the dignity and individuality of each person
- Emotional, physical, and social needs unique to individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias
- Caregiver stress reduction techniques
Shift from Caregiver-Centered Care to Person-Centered Care
According to the NCCDP, dementia care has historically focused more on the caregivers’ needs than the needs of the person with dementia. While caregiver needs are important, it is also necessary to engage the senior in their current reality.
Caregivers joining together with the seniors can prevent agitation, confusion, and challenging behaviors while promoting the seniors’ humanness and dignity. This improves the caregiving experience as a whole.
The Value of Certification for Senior Living Advisors and Families in Florida
Having a Certified Dementia Practitioner certification is extremely valuable not only for senior living advisors, but also for clients and families. Because of Florida’s large and growing population of seniors with dementia, the need for qualified senior care professionals who are trained in best practices for dementia care is heightened.
Some of the benefits of being CDP-trained for senior living advisors include:
- Enhanced expertise: CDP-trained senior advisors use person-centered techniques to join the senior’s reality to reduce agitation and improve the care experience
- Behavioral insight: They know the neurological explanations for behaviors, which leads to empathy and understanding
- Improved communication: They are informed on how to best communicate with seniors with dementia
- Improved family support: They provide family and caregivers with reassurance, confidence, clear strategies, and peace of mind
- Advocacy and coordination: They act as a bridge of communication and support between clients, families, the memory care community, and medical team
- Professional credibility: They are committed to excellence and best practices in dementia and memory care
Clearly, having a CDP credential makes a senior living advisor an essential resource when finding an appropriate memory care facility in Florida and advocating for the best care possible for the senior.
How Senior Living Advisors Can Obtain CDP Certification in Florida
Senior living advisors can obtain CDP certification in Florida by following these steps:
- Attend the Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Care (ADDC) seminar (7–8 hrs)
- Submit the CDP application (outlines experience, credentials, and documentation)
- Maintain certification with 10 CEUs every 2 years
Some vendors that host highly acclaimed Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care seminars in Florida include Tranquil Transition Partners and Still Alive Inside.
Senior Consulting Advisors’ CDP Credentials
It is immensely valuable for families to utilize a senior living advisor who is trained as a Certified Dementia Practitioner when searching for appropriate care for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s. That is why every Senior Consulting Advisors team member is a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
We prioritize providing the highest level of senior advisory services for our clients, which is why every one of our staff members maintains this certification.
We make sure to use our training and knowledge in the field of dementia care to find the best memory care community in Florida for your loved one based on their needs.
Conclusion
Overall, being CDP-trained enriches the empathy, knowledge, and quality of service for senior living advisors in Florida.
Families should aim to use a senior living advisor who is a trained CDP – such as those on the Senior Consulting Advisors team – to improve the quality of care for their loved one with dementia. Doing so ensures loved ones get the care they need to maintain a high quality of life filled with meaning, purpose, and joy.
Need Memory Care in Florida?
If your loved one is in need of a memory care community in Florida, contact Senior Consulting Advisors. Our CDP-trained advisors are here to talk through your situation, budget, and preferences to find the perfect senior living community for your loved one in need of Alzheimer’s or dementia care.
Call (800) 969-7176 or visit SeniorConsultingAdvisor.com to speak to our trained advisors today. Our advisory services are at no cost to seniors or families.
