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Accepting the Challenge: A Modern Dementia Training Program for Caregivers

Accepting the Challenge is a video-based training program from Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care that helps family and professional caregivers understand dementia behaviors through real-life scenarios. It moves beyond generic assisted living training to offer practical, hands-on skills. You can access it as a self-paced video or as part of a group course, and it’s designed to meet you where you are—whether you’re new to caregiving or looking to deepen your expertise. There are concrete steps you can take today to find and use this program.

Key points

  • Accepting the Challenge is a video-based training from Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care that uses real-life dementia scenarios to teach practical skills.
  • It is designed for both family and professional caregivers and can be used individually or in groups.
  • The program is part of a larger toolkit that includes resource cards, a care partner guide, and certification options like the Dementia Connection Specialist.
  • To access it, visit teepasnow.com or answersaboutalz.org, or call 585-775-5949 to get notified about new launches.
  • Do not settle for short, generic dementia training; this program offers depth and real-world applicability.
  • Combine the video with live coaching or support groups for the best results.

What Is Accepting the Challenge and Why It Matters

Accepting the Challenge is a video-based training program created by Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care. Unlike a quick four-hour dementia course that treats memory care as an afterthought—like an asterisk added to assisted living training—this program dives deep into real-world situations. The videos feature actual people living with dementia, not actors, so you see genuine moments like someone struggling to communicate or needing help with a bathroom trip. This makes the learning feel immediate and applicable, not like a role-play exercise. The program is built on the idea that dementia care requires specialized skills, not just a little extra support on top of general caregiving.

How the Program Is Structured and What You’ll Learn

Accepting the Challenge is one piece of a larger toolkit from Positive Approach to Care, which also includes resource cards, a care partner guide, and courses on understanding the changing brain. The video itself is designed with enough variability that it can be used in many ways—by a family caregiver at home, by a group in a care facility, or by a professional trainer. It teaches you to recognize different 'gem states' (Teepa’s model for dementia stages) and offers specific interventions for each. The goal is to help you see what’s really going on with your loved one so you can respond with skill instead of frustration.

Who Can Benefit and How to Get Started

This program is for anyone caring for someone with dementia—family caregivers, professional staff in senior living, or healthcare workers. It’s especially valuable if you’ve felt frustrated by a lack of proper training. You can access Accepting the Challenge as a self-paced video purchase from the Positive Approach to Care website, or you can join a live course where you participate with others. The program is also part of a certification path: you can become a Dementia Connection Specialist (DCS) or a trainer who teaches others. To get notified when new sessions or updates launch, you can visit answersaboutalz.org or call 585-775-5949.

General caregiving information, not medical advice. Check medications and major care changes with your clinician.

Step-by-step

  1. Purchase or stream the Accepting the Challenge video on teepasnow.com, ideally bundled with the Care Partner Guide, as your foundation for understanding dementia behaviors through real-life scenarios.

  2. If you learn better in person, sign up for an upcoming Champion course on the PAC site to join a facilitated group where you can practice techniques and ask questions in real time.

  3. Watch one scenario at a time, pausing to write down one specific technique to try that week, then practice it for several days with your loved one before moving on to the next.

  4. In group or facility settings, schedule a weekly discussion after each video segment using the PAC resource cards to build a shared team language around care.

  5. For a free supplement to the paid video, check whether a partner organization (like Dementia Caregiver Support For Christians) offers a one-on-one Dementia Flight Audit coaching session to help you troubleshoot one specific care challenge.

  6. Pursue the Dementia Connection Specialist (DCS) certification if you want deeper, mentored training beyond the video — it is open to all caregivers regardless of formal education.

What not to do

  • Do not assume a four-hour dementia training module is enough; it treats dementia care as an afterthought and leaves you unprepared for real-world complexity.

  • Do not skip the video because it looks like role-play — it features real people with dementia in authentic situations, and the insights will not come from a textbook or lecture.

  • Do not use the program in isolation; pair it with the care partner guide, resource cards, a live Q&A, or coaching for ongoing support.

  • Do not dismiss the training if you already know your loved one well — it offers a fresh lens that can reduce stress and improve your relationship.

  • Do not wait until you feel overwhelmed to seek training; proactive learning prevents crises and makes daily care smoother.

Practical tools

  • The Accepting the Challenge Video

    The core tool: a video featuring real-life dementia scenarios. Watch one scenario per week and practice the demonstrated approach with your person. Available for purchase at teepasnow.com.

  • Resource Cards from Positive Approach to Care

    Physical quick-reference cards keyed to different gem states and behaviors. Keep them in your pocket or on the fridge, and pull one out during a challenging moment to guide your response.

  • The Care Partner Guide (New Edition)

    A companion guidebook offering detailed strategies for each gem state, with step-by-step activity and communication ideas for planning your day or troubleshooting a specific behavior.

  • Dementia Connection Specialist (DCS) Certification

    A deeper-dive certification open to all caregivers regardless of education, which includes the Accepting the Challenge video plus live training and mentoring. Enroll through the PAC website.

  • The Dementia Flight Audit Coaching Session

    A free one-on-one coaching opportunity offered by some partner organizations (like Dementia Caregiver Support For Christians), where a coach walks you through one specific care problem so you can apply the video's lessons to your unique situation.

Discuss with your clinician

If your loved one is on medications for dementia (e.g., cholinesterase inhibitors), ask your clinician how the gem state model might affect medication timing or dosage adjustments.

If you notice sudden changes in behavior after trying a new technique from the video, discuss with your clinician whether there might be an underlying medical issue (e.g., infection or pain).

If you are considering the Dementia Connection Specialist certification, ask your clinician if they recommend any additional training or if they have experience with Teepa Snow’s approach.

If your loved one has a co-occurring condition like Parkinson’s or a history of stroke, ask your clinician how the gem state model applies to their specific brain changes.

Related guides

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