Better Dementia™: A Comprehensive Online Course for Dementia Caregivers
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Over the past few months, I have been quieter than usual here. That silence was intentional.
Throughout 2025, I completed the first draft of my second book, Better Dementia: From Overwhelmed to Empowered, which will be published in 2027.
At the same time, I made a decision: while the book moves through the publishing process, caregivers still need guidance now. I decided to prepare my online, self-paced course for release.
Why I Built This Course
Caregiving for someone with dementia becomes harder not because caregivers stop trying, but because the disease changes. What once worked no longer does, and without understanding what is happening in the brain, caregivers are left reacting without a clear framework.
Most dementia education focuses on strategies without first explaining why caregiving needs change over time. Without that foundation, caregivers often experience frustration, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion.
This course was built to address that gap.
The Better Dementia™ Course teaches caregivers the what, when, and why of dementia, so they can master the how of caregiving with greater clarity and confidence.
What This Course Represents
This course is the culmination of several decades of fascination with brain science, neurology, human behavior, relationship dynamics, and the preservation of dignity.
It is also the distillation of more than ten years of clinical work specializing in dementia care. I have taught this material to over 1,000 families in one-on-one settings, helping them understand what is happening, anticipate what comes next, and adjust care in ways that reduce conflict and preserve emotional safety.
Those families consistently report feeling calmer, more confident, and better prepared for the decisions they face. This course brings that same teaching into a structured, accessible digital format.
What the Course Covers
The Better Dementia™ Course is a clinician-led, comprehensive education that walks caregivers through the entire dementia journey—from early changes to end-of-life care.
Using my signature Better Dementia Journey Framework, caregivers learn how to recognize where their loved one is in the disease process and how to anticipate what is likely to happen next.
The course includes clear, practical instruction on:
How dementia progresses and why caregiving needs change
Communication strategies appropriate for each stage of disease
The full range of psychiatric and behavioral symptoms in dementia
How to get home care started successfully
When and how to transition to a care facility
Which care settings are appropriate at different stages
What hospice care is, when it helps, and why it matters at the end of the journey
This is not surface-level education. It is designed to prepare caregivers for the complex, often emotionally difficult decisions they will need to make over time.
Who This Course Is For
The course is designed for both family caregivers and professional caregivers.
It is especially helpful for those who:
Feel that caregiving has become harder to explain or predict
Want more than tips or checklists
Are caring for someone at home or in a care community
Want guidance they can return to as needs evolve
I am also actively working to bring this education into home care agencies, memory care facilities, and long-term care settings.
Two Learning Options
The course is available in two formats:
Self-paced learning, designed for caregivers who need flexibility
Guided learning, which combines the full course with live Zoom training with me twice monthly
For caregivers who cannot attend live sessions, recordings are always available to watch at a convenient time.
Private Family Consulting
In addition to the course, I continue to work privately with a limited number of families. These sessions take place primarily online, and I work with families across the country who are navigating complex caregiving decisions or transitions.
Moving Forward
This course is the digital companion to my upcoming book and represents the core of what I have taught families for years. My hope is that it offers clarity before crisis—and understanding before overwhelm.
Caregiving changes as dementia progresses. With the right understanding, caregivers can change with it.
To learn more about the Better Dementia™ Course, visit BetterDementia.com.
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Amy Shaw, PA
Founder, Better Dementia
