The Best Friends™ approach to dementia care is among the most well-known and highly regarded humanistic approaches to providing care for people with dementia. The Best Friends™ Master Trainer Certification program is designed to produce a qualified on-site staff member who can provide ongoing training, coaching, support, inspiration, and programming advice for every level of staff at their location.

Here are the top 5 reasons to become a Best Friends™ Certified Master Trainer (BF-CMT)!

The Best Friends™ approach is truly the best dementia care

The person-centered Best Friends™ approach is grounded in the understanding that relationships are supremely important in dementia care and should reflect the essential elements of friendship: respect, empathy, support, trust, humor. Communities following the Best Friends™ approach care for the whole person—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—in ways that bring meaning, security, and joy to residents’ daily lives. Staff also enjoy greater success and satisfaction in their work, and families feel confident when their loved one is cared for following the Best Friends™ model. The Best Friends™ approach promotes the dignity and individual rights of people with memory loss through knowing the history and preferences of each resident, communicating skillfully, and providing a supportive environment and meaningful engagement.

Staff training has never been easier!

Master Trainers are given access to exclusive training and promotional content including training modules, training outlines, instructor materials, handouts and worksheets, tests and answer keys, certificates for staff, and more! Our Best Friends™ Master Trainer Portal is an online community filled with resources to train your staff and promote your organization, and gives you a place to connect with other Master Trainers using the forum.

It’s easy to implement and cost-effective

Best Friends™ Certified Master Trainers are qualified to teach their co-workers about the Best Friends approach and its implementation. Master-level training can be received at our annual Best Friends™ Training Institute or be arranged exclusively for your own staff at a site hosted by your organization. Trainings are customizable to fit your needs. With Master Trainers on staff using the multitude of comprehensive training materials provided in the Portal, everyone in your community can easily adopt Best Friends™ and provide the very best dementia care.

It will draw people to your community

Having a Certified Master Trainer on staff also grants the Best Friends™ Environment designation to your care community, and helps you stand out from your competitors. The Best Friends™ Environment designation demonstrates a commitment to providing the highest quality of dementia care available today as well as to ensuring ongoing, sustainable professional development for staff in the Best Friends™ care philosophy. Master Trainers are given access to a wide range of promotional materials they can use to market their community, and to show individuals and families why they want to choose you for their memory care needs.

The books are trusted resources for everyday use!

A suite of Best Friends™ products will assist in your staff’s implementation of the approach. With the Best Friends™ publications you get practical, everyday tips and strategies for use by your organization, staff, and families for providing improved dementia care practices.

Visit the Best Friends™ Portal for more information on this dementia care approach and its products and training resources.