This course focuses on building relationships with those living with dementia and understanding how when we make small shifts through effective communication techniques, we can promote positive interactions. The course provides emphasis on research to support utilizing skills and appropriate words and actions to enhance one’s quality of life.
Live Webinar
Thu, Jun 4, 2026 at 3:00 pm EDTUnder Review: AOTA/0.1 - Application has been made to the American Occupational Therapy Association's (AOTA's) Approved Provider Program.
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to identify 3 ways that our words and actions matter and how this can impact the outcome of an interaction.
- After this course, participants will be able to identify three behaviors commonly exhibited by individuals with dementia and explain the underlying needs or messages each behavior may be communicating.
- After this course, participants will be able to identify three ways occupational therapy practitioners can support individuals living with dementia and their care partners to strengthen relationships and maximize functional abilities.
Agenda
| 0-5 Minutes | Introduction and Research to Support the Concepts |
| 5-20 Minutes | Include Me with Concepts as Follows: Talk to Me, Not About Me; What am I Trying to Communicate?; It's all in the Approach |
| 20-40 Minutes | Words and Actions Matter |
| 40-55 Minutes | Engage With Me and the OT's Role |
| 55-60 Minutes | Summary; Q&A |
Presented By
Laurie Walther
MS CCC-SLP
Laurie is an ASHA-certified, Texas-licensed SLP with over 30 years of experience primarily in Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, Memory Support, and Acute Care Hospital Settings. She is the co-founder and principal of Empowering Care Partners, a company providing training and consulting to individuals living with dementia and their care partners, including family members, dementia care professionals, and organizations. She 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 of rehab. She loves teaching, mentoring, and leading individuals to maximize their best to support those we serve.
More
Financial: Laurie Walther was paid an honorarium for this presentation. She is co-founder and principal of Empowering Care Partners, a for-profit organization providing training and support for those living with dementia and their care partners. She is also the co-creator of the support series, “Eating Well with Dementia”. Non-financial: Laurie Walther is a Certified Independent Trainer with Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care.
Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by OccupationalTherapy.com, a Continued site.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Course participation information
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NOTE: Full attendance for all courses is mandatory. For self-study courses, this includes reading the full text, listening to the full audio recording, or watching the complete video, as appropriate for the format of the course.
Passing an online exam and completing a course evaluation will be required to earn continuing education credit.
Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.
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