Psychosocial care is a cornerstone of dementia care and plays an important role in improving the quality of life of persons with dementia and their caregivers. This course is designed to equip Health Professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to provide psychosocial dementia care, with a focus on dementia assessment, person-centred behavioural management and caregiver support that can be applied in both clinical and community settings.

Conducted using the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model by the NIMHANS Dementia ECHO team at the Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Vayomanasa Sanjeevani and NIMHANS Digital Academy.

By the end of the training, participants will be better equipped to provide evidence-based psychosocial dementia care in their professional practice.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a foundational understanding of dementia and conduct screening and brief cognitive assessments.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments across cognitive, functional, behavioural, and sensory domains.
• Provide structured psychoeducation, address caregiver concerns, and manage family dynamics.
• Implement non-pharmacological strategies for managing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD).
• Identify and address wandering and other safety risks.
• Recognize the impact of medical comorbidities and adverse effects of medication and collaborate for integrated care.
• Assess and address sensory health, mobility and fall prevention in dementia care.
• Prevent, assess, and support the management of delirium in individuals with dementia.
• Detect elder abuse and respond to legal and ethical issues in dementia care.
• Utilize legal, community and institutional resources effectively.
• Apply principles of palliative and end-of-life care in advanced dementia.

The course is structured as a progressive learning pathway consisting of two levels: Foundational and Advanced. Participants are required to complete the Foundational Level before progressing to the Advanced Level. Those who wish to further enhance their knowledge and competencies may subsequently undertake the Advanced Level. For comprehensive training, participants may also opt for the Combined Course, which includes both levels.

This level provides essential knowledge and practical skills in psychosocial dementia care through a structured training program. The Foundational Level consists of 5 modules delivered over 16 sessions.

Session Structure:

• Didactic lectures covering key concepts in psychosocial dementia care.
• Learning through case vignettes, role plays and practical examples.
• Interactive discussions and case-based learning.
• Case presentations, where applicable and revision sessions.

The Advanced Level is designed for healthcare professionals who have foundational knowledge of dementia care and wish to develop advanced competencies in comprehensive assessment, multidisciplinary management and person-centred psychosocial interventions. The course emphasizes the application of evidence-based approaches to complex clinical situations, interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical decision-making and the development of sustainable models of dementia care across different healthcare settings. The Advanced Level consists of 7 sessions.

Session Structure:

• Theory integrated with advanced case discussions
• Applied learning through complex case presentations
• Interactive discussions with expert guidance
• Final session: Advanced Revision

Sessions Overview:

• Session 1: Advanced Cognitive Assessment
• Session 2: Cognitive Engagement and Communication Strategies
• Session 3: Legal and Ethical Challenges in Dementia Care
• Session 4: Building and sustaining caregiver support programs
• Session 5: Supporting treatment of medical comorbidities in Dementia
• Session 6: Palliative and End-of-Life Care
• Session 7: Revision

Applicants must possess any one of the following qualifications:

• Postgraduate Degree in Social Work (MSW or equivalent)
• Postgraduate Degree in Psychology (M.A./M.Sc. in Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, or Applied Psychology)
• M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology / Rehabilitation Psychology (RCI-recognized or equivalent RCI-approved courses)
• B.Sc. Nursing or M.Sc. Psychiatric Nursing
• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification recognized by the appropriate regulatory authority

• Non-Refundable Fee: The course fee is non-refundable once paid.
• Course Access: Access to course materials will be granted only upon full payment of the applicable fee.
• Attendance — Live Format: Participants are expected to attend at least 80% of the scheduled live sessions. Self-Paced Format: Participants must complete all modules and assessments within the prescribed duration of their enrolled course.
• Certification: Certification will be awarded upon successful completion of all required modules, assessments and case presentations (where applicable).

If you have any other queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: