Dementia from Cell to Society – for dentists, dental hygienists, dietitians, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, Autumn 2027

About the course

What makes this course unique is its multi-professional approach. Participants include dentists, dental hygienists, dietitians, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. Learning together provides a broader perspective on dementia care, oral health, and communication, and fosters collaboration across disciplines. You will also have the opportunity to build valuable networks with professionals from different fields.

This will give you a new multi-professional perspective on dementia, oral health and the communicative function. 

After the course you will receive a diploma from Karolinska Institutet and Stiftelsen Silviahemmet as well as a special pin that will be awarded to you by HM Queen Silvia at a ceremony.

Objectives

This course aims to increase your knowledge about:

• Risk factors, symptoms and progression of different dementia disorders.
• Your professional role and team-related aspects in the care of people with dementia.
• Consequences of dementia from a biopsychosocial perspective.
• Informal care and support for people with dementia.

Course set-up

The course amounts to 15 ECTS and is delivered part-time. The course is given in English and is fully online. It consists of webinars, lectures (mainly pre-recorded), individual assignments, online discussions and seminars.

Target groups

Dentists, dental hygienists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists who work with older adults and who regularly meet patients with dementia.

Course content

The course is divided into two modules:

Dementia from a biological perspective, 7.5 credits
This module covers the most common types of dementia and prevention, symptoms, progression and interventions are discussed. This module also covers the consequences of dementia from a biopsychosocial perspective.

Dementia from a societal perspective, 7.5 credits
This module covers how to interact with people with dementia in different stages of the illness. It also includes a reflection, based om important concepts, on what it is like to live with dementia and how family members perceive the illness.

Course syllabus

Course leaders and lecturers

Course leaders

”Oral health for people with dementia needs to be managed multi-professionally. This course is an important first step in this direction.”
Anna-Karin Welmer, course leader, senior lecturer in physiotherapy, associate professor in aging research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

Eva Lindqvist, lecturer, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

Camilla Malinowsky, senior lecturer, docent, deputy head of the Division of Occupational Therapy at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet.

Lecturers

Inger Wårdh, specialist dentist orofacial medicine and associate professor in gerodontics, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.

Nivetha Gavriilidou, PhD, lecturer.

Christina Samuelsson, professor, speech and language pathologist at Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet.

Jeannette Ekblom Hägerström, lecturer at Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet.

Date

Planned for the autumn of 2027.

Location

Interactive online studies via the learning platform Canvas and meetings on Zoom.

Price

35 000 SEK. VAT may be added. Contact us for more information.

Please note this price is subject to changes. 

Contract education

This course is offered as contract education in accordance with Swedish regulations (SFS 2002:760). It can only be commissioned by a legal entity such as an organisation or company. 

If you wish to participate in the course, please make sure to confirm that your employer will cover the cost.

More information

Susanna Sjunneryd, project coordinator
Karolinska Institutet Executive and Professional Education
E-mail: susanna.sjunneryd@ki.se
Phone: +46 (0) 8-524 86 432

Application

Registration is not open yet.

Please note that the course is subject to the condition that we receive a sufficient number of participants.

Registration is binding. For cancellations later than six (6) weeks before the start of the course, 50 percent of the course fee will be charged, and for cancellations later than four (4) weeks before the start of the course, the full course fee will be charged. For complete terms and conditions, see our general terms and conditions.