What is a dementia care specialist?
The Dementia Care Specialist Program supports people with dementia and their caregivers in order to ensure the highest quality of life possible while living at home. In order to accomplish this, the dementia care specialists (DCS):
1. Provide free information and assistance to adults with memory or cognitive concerns, or who have been given a dementia diagnosis.
Provide free information and assistance to adults with memory or cognitive concerns, or who have been given a dementia diagnosis. They can help with:
- Independence. Dementia care specialists are local experts on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. They can help connect you with all of the opportunities available in your community to keep you active and involved.
- Memory screening. Dementia care specialists and other staff members at the aging and disability resource center (ADRC) or tribal agency perform memory screens. A memory screen is a tool that helps identify possible memory and cognitive changes. Like a blood pressure screening, this tool is only an indicator. The dementia care specialist may advise a follow-up with a doctor about memory and cognition.
- Research opportunities. Dementia care specialists can connect you to research studies that attempt to further understand the causes and possible treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.
- Enrichment opportunities. Some dementia care specialists provide specific activities and programs that connect people with dementia to music, art, nature, and social activities.
2. Provide information and support to family members and friends who are caregivers.
Provide information and support to family members and friends who are caregivers, such as:
- Assistance with care planning. Dementia care specialists can help to address your current situation and plan for the future, including advance care plans and connections to legal and financial planning experts.
- Connections to support groups and respite. Dementia care specialists know about all of the opportunities and resources available in your community and can help you find information and make connections.
- Support through programming. Dementia care specialists run support programs to assist family caregivers in providing care for their loved ones at home while maintaining their own health and well-being.
3. Help develop dementia-friendly communities where people with dementia can remain active and safe, and caregivers can feel supported.
Help develop dementia-friendly communities where people with dementia can remain active and safe, and caregivers can feel supported. Dementia-friendly communities include:
- Memory cafes. Dementia care specialists create and support memory cafes. A memory cafe is a meeting place for anyone who has begun to experience changes in memory. It can be a fun way to connect with others who are dealing with the same issues. The intent is for people with memory or cognitive issues and their family or friends to come together in a relaxed and social environment to connect with one another. Each memory cafe is unique, as the participants are encouraged to make it their own.
- Dementia-friendly businesses. Dementia care specialists can provide training to a business, organization, or other group to help them understand dementia better and be equipped to respond warmly and effectively when serving people living with dementia and their caregivers.
- Public presentations and meetings. Dementia care specialists are local experts on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and can provide interactive, informative presentations on topics including, but not limited to: brain health, dementia, warning signs, caregiving, and dementia-friendly community initiatives.
- Dementia coalitions. Many dementia care specialists facilitate or support coalitions that bring together people from the community to work on dementia-related initiatives.
4. Train other staff at the ADRCs and other county and municipal offices to be dementia-capable.
Train other staff at the ADRCs and other county and municipal offices to be dementia-capable.
- Dementia-capable ADRCs and tribal agencies. Dementia care specialists work with ADRC and tribal agency staff to equip them to provide appropriate, competent, and sensitive supports to people with dementia and their caregivers.
- Dementia-capable county agencies. Dementia care specialists work with veteran service officers, police and sheriff departments, public health departments, transportation departments, and other agencies to ensure that staff members are equipped to respond warmly and effectively when serving people living with dementia and their caregivers.
DCS program webinars
Register for a webinar
All webinars will take place live on Zoom from 12 to 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. Dates and topics for each webinar are listed in the table below. Visit the registration page to sign up for any of the monthly webinars.
In partnership with statewide dementia care specialists, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services will be hosting monthly webinars throughout 2021 for people with dementia and their family caregivers. Each presentation will cover a different topic and include practical tools and resources for families.
Each webinar will be recorded. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, video links will be posted below as they are made available.
| Webinar Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| January 13, 2021 | Social Isolation |
| February 10, 2021 | Intimacy and Relationship Changes |
| March 10, 2021 | Incontinence Management |
| April 14, 2021 | Care Transitions |
| May 12, 2021 | Building a Support Network |
| June 9, 2021 | Safety Planning |
| July 14, 2021 | Driving |
| August 11 | Grief |
| September 8 | Palliative Care |
| October 13 | Family Conflict and Changes in Social Support |
| November 10 | Non-Pharmacological Approaches: Part 1 |
| December 8 | Non-Pharmacological Approaches: Part 2 |
Program reports
Program reports summarizing achievements of these goals are available for 2015 through 2019:
- 2019 (P-02157-19) (PDF)
- 2018 (P-02157-18) (PDF)
- 2017 (P-02157-17) (PDF)
- 2016 (P-01775) (PDF)
- 2015 (P-01284) (PDF)
Where can I find a dementia care specialist?
Dementia care specialists are employed by ADRCs in select counties. Currently there are 29 dementia care specialists working in ADRCs, covering 56 counties.
Dementia care specialists are also employed by tribal agencies. There are currently four tribal dementia care specialists, covering five tribes.
Contact information for ADRCs and tribes with a dementia care specialist is listed below. If your county does not have a dementia care specialist, your county or regional ADRC or tribal aging and disability resource specialist can help.
ADRC Contact Information–Dementia Care Specialists
Ashland County
ADRC of the North
(Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, and Sawyer counties)
630 Sanborn Ave.
Ashland, WI 54806
Toll free: 866-663-3607
Barron County
ADRC of Barron, Rusk, and Washburn Counties
335 Monroe Ave., Room 100
Barron, WI 54812-1572
Toll free: 888-538-3031
Bayfield County
ADRC of the North
(Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, and Sawyer counties)
117 E. 5th St.
Washburn, WI 54891
Toll free: 866-663-3607
Brown County
ADRC of Brown County
300 S. Adams St.
Green Bay, WI 54301
Phone: 920-448-4300
Buffalo County
ADRC of Buffalo and Pepin Counties
407 S. Second St.
Alma, WI 54610
Toll free: 866-578-2372
Burnett County
ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin
(serving Burnett and Polk counties and the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe)
7410 County Road K, #180
Siren, WI 54872
877-485-2372
Calumet County
ADRC of ADRC of Calumet, Outagamie, and Waupaca Counties
206 Court St.
Chilton, WI 53014
Toll Free: 866-739-2372
Chippewa County
ADRC of Chippewa County
711 N. Bridge St., Room 118
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Toll Free: 888-400-6920
Crawford County
ADRC of Eagle Country
(Serving Crawford, Juneau, Richland, and Sauk counties)
225 N. Beaumont Road, Suite 117
Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
Toll free: 877-794-2372
Dane County
ADRC of Dane County
2865 N. Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
Toll free: 855-417-6892
Dodge County
ADRC of Dodge County
199 County Road DF, third Floor
Juneau, WI 53039
Toll free: 800-924-6407
Douglas County
ADRC of Douglas County
1316 N. 14th St.
Superior, WI 54880
Toll free: 866-946-2372
Dunn County
ADRC of Dunn County
3001 US Highway 12 East, Suite 160
Menomonie, WI 54751
715-232-4006
Eau Claire County
ADRC of Eau Claire County
721 Oxford Ave., Room 1130
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Toll free: 888-338-4636
Grant County
ADRC of Southwest Wisconsin
(Serving Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette counties)
8820 Highway 35/61 South
Lancaster, WI 53813
Toll free: 800-514-0066
Green County
ADRC of Southwest Wisconsin
(Serving Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette counties)
Monroe Office
N3152 State Highway 81
Monroe, WI 53566
Toll free: 800-514-0066
Iowa County
ADRC of Southwest Wisconsin
(Serving Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette counties)
303 W. Chapel St.
Dodgeville, WI 53533
Toll free: 800-514-0066
Iron County
ADRC of the North
(Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, and Sawyer counties)
300 Taconite St., Suite 201
Hurley, WI 54534
Toll free: 866-663-3607
Jackson County
ADRC of Jackson County
421 County Road R
Black River Falls, WI 54615
Toll free: 844-493-4245
Jefferson County
ADRC of Jefferson County
1541 Annex Road
Jefferson, WI 53549
Toll free: 866-740-2372
Juneau County
ADRC of Eagle Country
(Serving Crawford, Juneau, Richland, and Sauk counties)
Mauston Office
220 E. La Crosse St.
Mauston, WI 53948
Toll free: 877-794-2372
Kenosha County
ADRC of Kenosha County
8600 Sheridan Road
Kenosha, WI 53143
Toll free: 800-472-8008
Kewaunee County
ADRC of the Lakeshore
(Serving Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties)
Kewaunee Office
810 Lincoln St.
Kewaunee, WI 54216
Toll free: 877-416-7083
La Crosse County
ADRC of La Crosse County
300 4th St. North
La Crosse, WI 54601
Toll free: 800-500-3910
Lafayette County
ADRC of Southwest Wisconsin
(Serving Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette counties)
Darlington Office
15701 County Road K
Darlington, WI 53530
Toll free: 800-514-0066
Langlade County
ADRC of Central Wisconsin
1225 Langlade Road
Antigo, WI 54409
Toll free: 888-486-9545
Lincoln County
ADRC of Central Wisconsin
607 N. Sales St., Suite 206
Merrill, WI 54452
Toll free: 888-486-9545
Manitowoc County
ADRC of the Lakeshore
(Serving Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties)
Manitowoc Office
1701 Michigan Ave.
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Toll free: 877-416-7083
Marathon County
ADRC of Central Wisconsin
2600 Stewart Ave, Suite 25
Wausau, WI 54401
Toll free: 888-486-9545
Marinette County
ADRC of Marinette County
2500 Hall Ave.
Marinette, WI 54143
Toll free: 888-442-3267
Menominee County
ADRC of of the Wolf River Region
W3272 Wolf River Road
Keshena, WI 54135
Toll free: 855-492-2372
Milwaukee County
Aging Resource Center (ARC) of Milwaukee County
1220 W. Vliet St., Suite 300
Milwaukee, WI 53205
Toll free: 866-229-9695
Monroe County
ADRC of Monroe County
315 West Oak St., Suite A
Sparta, WI 54656
Toll free: 888-339-7854
Oconto County
ADRC of the Wolf River Region
229 Van Buren St.
Oconto Falls, WI 54154
Toll free: 855-492-2372
Outagamie County
ADRC of Calumet, Outagamie, and Waupaca Counties
Outagamie County Government Center
320 S. Walnut St.
Appleton, WI 54911
Toll free: 866-739-2372
Ozaukee County
ADRC of Ozaukee County
121 W. Main St.
Port Washington, WI 53704
Toll free: 866-537-4261
Pepin County
ADRC of Buffalo and Pepin Counties
740 7th Ave. West
Durand, WI 54736
Toll free: 866-578-2372
Pierce County
ADRC of Pierce County
412 W. Kinne St.
Ellsworth, WI 54011
Toll free: 877-273-0804
Polk County
ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin
(serving Burnett and Polk counties and the St. Croix Chippewa Tribe)
100 Polk County Plaza, #60
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Toll free: 877-485-2372
Portage County
ADRC of Portage County
1519 Water St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Toll free: 866-920-2525
Price County
ADRC of the North
(Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, and Sawyer counties)
Phillips Office
104 S. Eyder Ave.
Phillips, WI 54555
Toll free: 866-663-3607
Racine County
ADRC of Racine County
14200 Washington Ave.
Sturtevant, WI 53177
Toll free: 866-219-1043
Richland County
ADRC of Eagle Country
(Serving Crawford, Juneau, Richland, and Sauk counties)
Richland Center Office
221 W. Seminary St.
Richland Center, WI 53581
Toll free: 877-794-2372
Rock County
ADRC of Rock County
1900 Center Ave.
Janesville, WI 53546
Toll free: 855-741-3600
Rusk County
ADRC of Barron, Rusk, and Washburn Counties
Ladysmith Office
Courthouse Building
311 Miner Avenue East, Suite C260
Ladysmith, WI 54848
Toll free: 888-538-3031
Sauk County
ADRC of Eagle Country
(Serving Crawford, Juneau, Richland, and Sauk counties)
Baraboo Office
505 Broadway St.
Baraboo, WI 53913
Toll free: 877-794-2372
Sawyer County
ADRC of the North
(Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, and Sawyer counties)
Hayward Office
10610 Main St.
Hayward, WI 54843
Toll free: 866-663-3607
Shawano County
ADRC of the Wolf River Region
W7327 Anderson Ave.
Shawano, WI 54166
Toll free: 855-492-2372
St. Croix County
ADRC of St. Croix County
1752 Dorset Lane
New Richmond, WI 54017
Toll free: 800-372-2333
Trempealeau County
ADRC of Trempealeau County
36245 Main St.
Whitehall, WI 54773-0067
Toll free: 800-273-2001
Walworth County
ADRC of Walworth County
W4051 County Road NN
Elkhorn, WI 53121-1005
Toll free: 800-365-1587
Washburn County
ADRC of Barron, Rusk, and Washburn Counties
Spooner Office
Spooner Annex Building
850 W. Beaverbrook Ave., Suite 4
Spooner, WI 54801
Toll free: 888-538-3031
Waukesha County
ADRC of Waukesha County
500 Riverview Ave.
Waukesha, WI 53188
Toll free: 866-677-2372
Waupaca County
ADRC of Calumet, Outagamie, and Waupaca Counties
811 Harding St.
Waupaca, WI 54981
Toll free: 866-739-2372
Winnebago County
ADRC of Winnebago County
220 Washington Ave.
PO Box 2187
Oshkosh, WI 54903-2187
Toll free: 877-886-2372
Wood County
ADRC of Central Wisconsin
300 S. Peach Ave., Suite 1
Marshfield, WI 54449
Toll free: 888-486-9545
Tribal Contact Information–Dementia Care Specialists
Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.
Aging and Disability Service
2932 Highway 47 N.
Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538
Phone: 715-384-8479
Menominee Tribe
Department of Aging and Long Term Care
N2222 White Cedar Road
Keshena, WI 54135
Phone: 715-799-5270
Oneida Nation
Oneida Community Health Center
Oneida Nation
525 Airport Drive
Oneida, WI 54155
Phone: 920-869-2711
St. Croix Chippewa Tribe
St. Croix Tribal Aging Unit
24663 Angeline Ave.
Webster, WI 54893
Toll free: 800-236-2195, ext. 5116
