On-Demand CE Training
ODL 410: Supporting Clients and Families Experiencing Regressive Illness and Dementia
Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.
Please note: This on-demand webinar is a replay of a live CE event. The format reflects the original presentation and may include live Q&A, transitions, and intermittent audio/visual fluctuations typical of a live recording.
2 CREDIT HOURS APPROVED FOR:
Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 2 General Continuing Education credits
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 2 Contact hours
Psychologists
APA – 2 CE credits
Counselors 2 Contact hours
NBCC ACEP – 2 Contact hours
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 2 Contact hours
Addiction Professionals
NAADAC – This course is not approved for NAADAC Contact hours
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 2 Contact hours
Case Managers
CCMC – 2 CE Contact hours
Created On: 5/7/2026
Target Audience:
This course is targeted for social workers, psychologists, counselors, nurses and case managers.
Overview:
In the United States, millions of individuals are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Dementia can pose challenges in all facets of life for individuals living with dementia as well as their families and providers.
This training will explore the current landscape of dementia in the United States, focusing on its prevalence, emerging trends, and the broader impact on individuals, families, services, and systems. A special focus will be on understanding the different types of dementia and their coinciding characteristics. In addition, we will examine various supports, resources, programmatic options, and clinical implications to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:
- Identify lifestyle factors that may decrease the risk of dementia onset.
- Identify supports and resources for individuals with dementia and their family caregivers.
- Recognize the impact of dementia on individuals and family units.
- Identify three interventions and/or clinical tools to support individuals with dementia.
Presenter:
Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, LMSW
Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, LMSW, is a licensed social worker and an Associate Professor of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University. She received her bachelor’s of science in Special Education from Wayne State University, master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and her PhD in Social Work with a dual title in Gerontology from Wayne State University. She has 20 years of experience supporting individuals with disabilities and their family caregivers. She has consulted on cases of individuals with disabilities with various co-occurring conditions. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has worked as a professor, clinical therapist, teacher, consultant, and speaker. She has published over 80 research articles in scholarly journals and encyclopedias regarding individuals with disabilities, family caregiving, and aging.
Dr. Marsack-Topolewski has served as the lead principal investigator on multiple grant-funded programs tailoring services for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and chronic illnesses. She is an appointed board member of the U.S. National Task Group (NTG) on Intellectual Disability and Dementia Practices. Dr. Marsack-Topolewski’s research has been featured on National Public Radio (NPR) and ABC News Detroit. Over the past 5 years, she testified before members of the Michigan Legislature to advocate for new laws that protect against the exploitation and abuse of adults with disabilities. The first of these house bills was signed into law in the state of Michigan in December 2023. In 2024, she received the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Research Award for Research Excellence. In addition, she received the Arc of Oakland County’s Advocacy Hall of Fame Award in 2024.