Dementia Care Specialists (DCS) is a national dementia training and consulting firm founded in May 1999 by Kim Warchol, OTR/L. Through many years as a practicing Occupational Therapist in geriatrics and a student of Claudia Allen’s teachings Kim identified methods of enhancing the function, safety and quality of life of individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
Often, individuals with dementia are underserved because therapists and others lack the knowledge to help those with irreversible cognitive changes. Once Kim and her team found success with this population they felt driven to create an environment in which they could share their passion and innovative knowledge with other health professionals who desired to help those with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia to live a quality life.
In 1998, Dementia Care Specialists, Inc. (under the name of Five Star Health Care Seminars) created and led its first dementia continuing education workshop. Our team was immediately impressed by the positive response of the therapy professionals who attended. At that moment we became committed to further developing our services and offerings to serve this ever growing health care population.
Since 1998, we have presented our continuing education workshop “Dementia Therapy: Achieving Positive Outcomes for the Person with Dementia” to over 3000 therapy clinicians nationally. This course has been provided exclusively to over 15 therapy companies.
In addition, we have provided numerous interdisciplinary training programs and guest lectures at universities, professional events and family symposiums.
Kim Warchol and the DCS team was instrumental in establishing the 2001 Medicare program memorandum prohibiting denial of therapy (OT, PT, ST) services based solely on the diagnosis of dementia. While working closely with legal experts and other advocates, our therapists submitted several case studies reflecting the positive changes made during treatment with the dementia resident. This information was a crucial factor facilitating the Medicare rule change.
In 2004 we first introduced the “Dementia Therapy Intermediate Class” which was a great success and we will continue to offer this course annually.
We also offer a variety of other learning opportunities including our newly launched “Dementia Care Online Education and Support Community”, our “Allen Master Clinician Training Program”, and our expanding video training library (addressing the training needs of many health care professionals).
DCS has developed other divisions of dementia care including a community Occupational Therapy practice specializing in dementia care in Illinois that we ran for approximately 3 years before relocating to Missouri.
In 2001, we developed The Forget-Me-Not Interdisciplinary Care Model” and several supporting tools including “The Forget-Me-Not Therapeutic Software Program”. This care program and its tools have been installed in many long term care communities that serve seniors with memory impairments across the country. This model is now owned by Provision Living, LLC.
We strive to be the best because we care so much about the result. Our fortitude and vision comes from the heart and soul of each of our team members who are fully committed to maximizing the quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers.
We exist because of partnerships. Our partnerships have included individual therapists who are seeking continuing education, individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families and national health care companies. Our team greatly values the partnerships that we have formed in the past 8 years and we revel in the joint successes that we have experienced.
While researches work feverishly to find a cure, we, the clinicians, must work feverishly to help the millions who suffer from dementia to thrive, not to simply exist. We welcome your partnership in the days and years to come!
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