When Vanessa Carter became the primary caregiver for her father Ted, who was living with Alzheimer’s, her life changed completely. She had already cared for her mother through dementia and now found herself caring for her father while raising her young son — part of what’s known as the “sandwich generation.” Vanessa often felt torn between responsibilities, battling exhaustion and guilt, wondering if she was doing enough. Over time, she learned that caregiving isn’t just about managing memory loss; it’s about offering connection, dignity, and joy even in small moments. With support and training, she found strength in compassion and became an advocate for caregivers everywhere.
“Caregiving taught me that love can still shine through, even when memory fades.” – Vanessa Carter
Learn More: Find online caregiver training and support at Caregiverlist Training University, where you can build confidence and skills to care with compassion.
When Tom was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at just 60, his wife Mary Swenson decided she wouldn’t let the disease take away their joy.
Instead of waiting for life to slow down, they made a bucket list of dreams they still wanted to share from skydiving to seeing gorillas in Africa. Every adventure reminded them that love and connection are stronger than any diagnosis.
Mary says, “You can sit around and wait, or you can choose adventure.”
Her story is a powerful reminder that caregiving can be both challenging and beautiful, filled with courage, laughter, and purpose.
Learn More: Find Alzheimer’s caregiver training and state-approved courses at Caregiverlist.com to help families like Mary’s provide better care every day.
When Cherina’s mother first started forgetting names and misplacing things, her family thought it was just normal aging. But as time went on, daily routines like cooking and paying bills became difficult, and Cherina realized her mom needed more care.
Stepping into the caregiver role was overwhelming at first. Balancing work, family, and her mother’s needs. But Cherina discovered that caregiving isn’t just about tasks. It’s about patience, reassurance, and finding ways to make her mom feel safe and loved, even as memories faded.
Through the challenges, she learned that every smile, every moment of connection, matters. Alzheimer’s changes lives, but caregiving brings dignity and love back into each day. 💙
“I realized caregiving is about preserving dignity and showing love in every moment, even when memories are gone.” – Cherina
👉 Learn more at www.caregiverlist.com Caregiverlist connects caregivers and senior care agencies with the tools they need: state-approved training, certification, job resources, and community support to help every caregiver succeed.
Providing quality care for seniors means more than just compassion — it requires the right skills and ongoing education. That’s why caregiver training is so valuable. When caregivers are trained properly, they gain the confidence to handle daily care tasks, communicate effectively with clients, and respond safely in emergencies. For agencies, this not only improves the quality of care but also helps with caregiver retention and compliance with state requirements.
At Caregiver Training University, we make it easy with state-approved, online caregiver courses that can be completed anytime, anywhere. Our platform allows agencies to track caregiver progress, issue customized certificates, and ensure staff stay compliant year after year. Families notice the difference when caregivers are trained and prepared — and agencies benefit from stronger teams and better client satisfaction.
Great caregivers understand that compassion begins with self-compassion. Caring for seniors can be physically and emotionally demanding, and without proper self-care, burnout can happen quickly. Simple habits like getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, and setting aside time for hobbies or relaxation are not selfish, they’re essential.
When caregivers feel strong, rested, and emotionally balanced, they’re better able to provide patient, attentive, and safe care. At Caregiverlist, we’re here to support you with training, tools, and resources that help you grow in your career while protecting your well-being. Because a healthy caregiver is a better caregiver for their clients, families, and themselves.
Even experienced caregivers benefit from regular training. Why? Because care techniques evolve, regulations update, and each client has unique needs. Ongoing education keeps caregivers confident, compliant, and compassionate. At Caregiverlist, we make continuous learning easy with online courses accessible anytime, anywhere. ➡️ Start your training today
Certification training for senior caregiving involves following the course curriculum for education on memory loss care created by each state’s department of health or social services. Certification means you can show evidence of learning the required curriculum topics with date of training, outline of topics and exam score showing you retained the information.
Memory loss care certification training involves:
Learning initial topics on types of memory loss, causes, and best care practices
Passing competency exam
Renewal courses annually to keep current with updated care techniques
Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Training Topics
Illinois new memory loss training course curriculum provides an example of typical memory loss certification training topics.
IL Caregiverlist 6-Hour Alzheimer’s and Dementia New-Hire Training
Effectively Communicating with Individuals with Alzheimer’s
Assisting Individuals with Dementia in Performing ADL’s
Problem-Solving with Individuals with Dementia who Exhibit Challenging Behavior (such as Aggressive and Catastrophic Behaviors)
Fundamentals of Dementia Care
Safe Environments
Managing the Activities of Individuals with Dementia
IL Caregiverlist 3-Hour Alzheimer’s and Dementia Annual Renewal Training
Promoting Resident Dignity, Independence, Individuality, Privacy and Choice
Resident Rights and Principles of Self-Determination
Care of Elderly Persons with Physical, Cognitive, Behavioral and Social Disabilities
Effectively Communicating with Individuals with Dementia
Illinois Senior Caregiver Memory Loss Training
The Illinois Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia training topics are mandated by the state’s new Alzheimer’s training law that all professional senior care companies and caregivers must follow. The Alzheimer’s Association championed the legislation because they were receiving too many calls to their helpline about unqualified caregivers for memory loss care. Caregivers trained in memory loss care techniques can better provide for the necessary care and process the emotional aspect of caring for someone with memory loss.
Train yourself or your staff with the right memory loss training. Illinois began requiring the specific memory loss training in June, 2019.
Call: 312-669-8820 or email: susan@caregiverlist.com
Illinois senior caregivers now must follow state-mandated training guidelines for caring for seniors with memory loss. As of June, 2019, professional caregivers and all licensed senior care companies providing care for anyone with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of memory loss must follow the states new amendment outlining the topics for memory loss training in Title 77, Code 245 for Home Care.
IL Caregiver Training Requirements for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Care
6-Hours of Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Loss Training within first 60-Days of Hire
3-Hours of Renewal Training Annually
Illinois memory loss training curriculum provided by Caregiver Training University matches the new state requirement.
Supervisors are required to have initial training in certifications that are not online or, but this training may be waived as long as they have the following:
2 years of experience as a manager with at least 1-year experience managing care for memory loss (Resume shows proof of this experience)
Caregiver Training University provides online training courses with curriculums designed to exactly match the state requirements. Created by experienced senior home care professionals, and located in Chicago, IL, Caregiver Training University delivers high-quality smart-phone and tablet-friendly Illinois caregiver training.
Finding caregiver training meeting the right guidelines can be confusing. The Professional Association of Caregivers endorses training provided by Caregiverlist, as a leader in innovating to provide digital caregiver training which has continued to be chosen as the preferred training by leading companies nationwide and internationally.
The Caregiver Training Manual will provide an overview of the concepts that will be taught in the course.
Senior Home Care Agencies subscribe to the Caregiverlist Training Learning Management System to efficiently and cost-effectively train their caregivers while maintaining adherence to state training guidelines.
Caregivers must be well prepared to provide care for seniors and the online training guidelines provided for each course helps them to learn the right information.
It provides a seamless program that can be tracked by managers to see how Caregivers are progressing. Also, Caregivers can complete the training on their own timeline, as well. Just because they have started training during a session does not mean they have to finish it during that session. Whether you are an agency or an individual, the online training courses provided by Caregiverlist will help you to satisfy your needs to progress in the senior caregiving profession.
Visit Caregiverlist.com or call us at (312) 669-8820. As the only training program provided and created by successful senior home care professionals, you’ll feel at home talking to their team. They have walked in your shoes and can answer any and all questions.
California senior caregivers are now required to be trained on specific topics that are needed to be a quality caregiver. Each year, California senior caregivers must take training course curriculums that focus on age-related illnesses, safety and privacy and elder abuse identification and reporting along with how to best assist with Activities of Daily Living.
Become a professional caregiver today, with custom training for your state and become a P.A.C. member with a t-shirt and lapel pin.
Train your staff with the Caregiverlist Learning Management System. Call: 312-669-8820 or email: susan@caregiverlist.com
Spanish language caregiver training is also available for California caregiver training.
