124 Skilled Nursing Facilities in Florida Achieve Bronze Level Certification in Empathic Dementia Care

Second Wind Dreams®, a pioneer in advanced elder care, announces a significant achievement in Florida. 124 skilled nursing facilities have been awarded the 2024 Bronze Level Certification in Empathic Dementia Care. This certification highlights the successful collaboration with the State of Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the funding support from CMP funds by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The certification centers on the adoption of the Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT®), an evidence-based program designed to enhance caregiver understanding and empathy towards individuals with dementia. The VDT® achieves this through sensory and physical adjustments that mimic the challenges faced by those with dementia, leading to improved care practices, such as reduced psychoactive medication use and fewer behavior-related hospitalizations.

Impacting over 3 million people in various settings, the VDT® program exceeds federal training requirements for dementia care, setting a higher standard for empathetic care. Benefiting from the CMP Grant, Florida’s skilled nursing facilities will have complimentary access to VDT® materials and training, fostering a supportive care environment through firsthand experience of dementia's challenges.