A Pathway to becoming a Certified Dementia Practitioner
THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE COVERED
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This training program is meticulously designed to align with critical industry standards for dementia education while fostering professional growth. Professionals not only advance their own skills but contribute to a more compassionate and informed approach to supporting people living with dementia and their families.
Upon completion, attendees will receive the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care certificate. This certificate is the first step in becoming a Certified Dementia Practitioner. You will also gain understanding and knowledge on the impact of dementia on daily life and effective ways to support those living with dementia.
SIGN UP NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT
$200.00 USD
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & DETAILS
*This is the required seminar for those pursuing CDP certification and who qualify through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. To see if you qualify, please visit the NCCDP web site at www.nccdp.org
MEET YOUR INTRUCTOR
ANITA VARELAS
has spent more than twenty years in the senior living industry, guiding over 1,000 Bay Area older adults and their families into communities where they can thrive. She grew up surrounded by her grandparents and great-grandparents, watching her parents honor seniors in their neighborhood by repairing homes, cleaning yards, and listening to their life stories. That upbringing shaped her belief that every older adult deserves respect, dignity, and thoughtful support.
Her career started at age fifteen as a dining room waitress in an assisted living community. In between serving meals, she volunteered with the sales team, absorbing everything she could. That drive pushed her into operations, admissions, and sales positions across multiple levels of care, eventually leading her to Sales Director and then Regional Sales Director roles overseeing communities in California, Oklahoma, and Texas. Along the way, she earned her Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) Administrator license, along with certifications in gerontology and dementia care.
Across two decades, Anita built a wide-ranging portfolio across senior living, skilled nursing, home health, and hospice. Her resume includes leadership roles at Seniority Inc., A Place for Mom, Carlton Senior Living, Greenridge Senior Care, Hillside Senior Care, Salem Lutheran Home, Bay View Nursing & Rehabilitation, Washington Care & Rehabilitation, Silverado, and Mission Healthcare. In each position, she strengthened occupancy, rebuilt sales systems, coached teams, managed multi-site portfolios, and developed go-to-market strategies that consistently beat industry benchmarks.
After 20+ years witnessing gaps in the referral and placement process, Anita created Neighborly Senior Placement. Neighborly is a woman-owned, hyper-local, concierge-level placement firm serving mainly the San Francisco Bay Area as well as all of California. Anita built the company around one simple truth: families deserve more than a generic referral list. They deserve a partner who knows the local landscape intimately and isn’t afraid to advocate for them.
As Founder and CEO, Anita has built Neighborly Senior Placement from the ground up—recruiting, hiring, training, and managing a team of 15+ employees who uphold the company’s concierge-level standards. She develops each consultant personally, ensuring they reflect her approach to ethics, transparency, and white-glove service. Under her leadership, Neighborly has become known for producing some of the most well-trained and trusted senior living consultants in the Bay Area.
Anita’s impact extends well beyond her organization. She serves as Board President of the National Placement & Referral Alliance (NPRA) San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, where she advocates for ethical placement practices and clearer industry standards. She is also the Event Chair of the San Mateo Senior Round Table, strengthening collaboration across hospitals, providers, and senior care partners. Her voice is increasingly recognized in legislative advocacy, professional training, and regional senior living leadership circles.