This course challenges the common perception of “challenging behaviors” in individuals with dementia by exploring their root causes through a compassionate, investigative lens. Participants will learn practical strategies to adjust care approaches, strengthen connection, and support more positive outcomes.
Live Webinar
Thu, May 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDTCEUs/Hours Offered: ASHA/0.1 Intermediate, Related; Calif SLPAB/1.0; IACET/0.1; Kansas LTS-S1370/1.0; SAC/1.0
Learning Outcomes
- After this course, participants will be able to list 4 potential reasons for the “why” behind the behavior.
- After this course, participants will be able to describe 3 ways to support the person living with dementia
- After this course, participants will be able to differentiate between the roles of a caregiver and a care partner and explain how this distinction can influence outcomes in effective dementia care partnerships.
Agenda
0-5 Minutes | Introduction: behaviors vs. communication |
5-10 Minutes | The LAB, Caregiving vs. Care Partnering, Types of Needs |
10-15 Minutes | Wandering |
15-25 Minutes | Anxiety/Agitation |
25-30 Minutes | Suspicion/Confusion |
30-35 Minutes | Aggression |
35-45 Minutes | Repetition |
45-50 Minutes | Sundowning |
50-55 Minutes | Putting the Pieces Together |
55-60 Minutes | Summary, Q&A |
Presented By

Laurie Walther
MS CCC-SLP
Laurie is a Texas licensed Speech Language Pathologist with over 28 years of experience primarily in the Skilled Nursing setting. She is the co-founder and principal of Empowering Care Partners, a company providing training and consulting to individuals living with dementia and their care partners who support them, including family members, dementia care professionals, and organizations. Laurie currently provides speech therapy services in Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and in the acute care hospital setting and is part of the Residency team for a college working with graduate students on applying their clinical skills and knowledge. Laurie recently co-created a program support series "Eating Well with Dementia", collaborating with colleagues in Malaysia and Wales.
Laurie is a Certified Independent Trainer with Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care. She has served as a mentor and leader to her partners, corporate members, staff clinicians, families and caregivers, and patients and residents. She has created many clinical, educational, and operational programs that have been carried out at the community level, corporate wide, nationally, and internationally. Laurie has been a staff clinician, clinical leader, director of rehab, regional director, and senior vice president of rehab. She loves teaching, mentoring and leading individuals to maximize their best to support those we serve.
More
Financial: Laurie Walther was paid an honorarium for this presentation. She is co-founder and principal of Empowering Care Partners, a for-profit organization providing training and support for those living with dementia and their care partners. She is also the co-creator of the support series, “Eating Well with Dementia” and a Certified Independent Trainer with Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care. Non-financial: Laurie Walther has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Sponsor Disclosure: This Course is presented by SpeechPathology.com, a Continued site.
Content Disclosure: This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Course participation information
To ensure you are ready to participate, please complete our short Test Drive to prepare your computer to view the course.
NOTE: Full attendance for all courses is mandatory. Please view the entire course.
Passing an online exam and completing a course evaluation will be required to earn continuing education credit.
Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.
On-demand courses include texts, video and audio recordings of live webinars, and multimedia formats. The exam and course evaluation for on-demand courses must be completed within 30 days of course registration.
To participate in the course, complete the exam and course evaluation, and earn continuing education credit, you must be a SpeechPathology.com member. Participants must complete the entire course; partial credit is not allowed.
SpeechPathology.com is committed to ensuring accessibility to the widest possible audience. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone. If you have questions, requests, or would like to report an accessibility-related issue, please email accessibility@continued.com. We will review your request and respond in a timely manner.
Visit our Contact us page or give us a call if you have questions.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Assn.
Intermediate Level
0.10 ASHA CEUs
California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board
SpeechPathology.com is approved by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board as a Continuing Professional Development Provider, approval number PDP 268. This course may meet the requirements for 1.00 hours of continuing education credit for speech-language pathologists as required by the California Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. The responsibility for determining whether or not this specific course counts toward an individual's requirements for license renewal is up to the individual. Please refer to the CA state board rules regarding allowable topics and self-study limits: https://www.speechandhearing.ca.gov/licensees/slp-au_cpd_req.shtml Live webinars on SpeechPathology.com are not included in the self-study limit under California professional development guidelines.
International Association for Continuing Education and Training
Continued, LLC, DBA SpeechPathology.com, is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Continued complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, Continued is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. continued, LLC, is authorized by IACET to offer 0.10 CEUs for this program.
Kansas Dept for Aging and Disability Services
Approved for 1.00 continuing education clock hour(s) for Kansas licensed Speech Pathologists by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. Long-Term Sponsorship number: LTS-S1370.
Speech-Language and Audiology Canada
Clinically certified members of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) can accumulate continuing education equivalents (CEEs) for their participation with SpeechPathology.com. One hour of coursework equals 1 CEE. All SAC members are encouraged to participate in on-going education.