Charity Pionk of Bethesda Aberdeen earns CARES® Dementia Specialist™ (C.D.S.) Credential
Charity Pionk, Director of the K.O. Lee Adult Day Health Center at Bethesda, recently earned CARES® Dementia Specialist™ (C.D.S.) Credentials through HealthCare Interactive. Pionk is the first person in South Dakota to earn the C.D.S credential.
Pionk, who has an AS degree in Health Information Management and worked in healthcare for 15 years, has been the Director of the Adult Day Health Center at Bethesda since 2018. She is also very active in the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Committee. This Committee helped the city of Aberdeen achieve Dementia Friendly America (DFA) status this past fall. Aberdeen is the first community in the state of South Dakota to receive this national DFA distinction.
HealthCare Interactive is an organization committed to improving dementia care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other progressive dementias. They are the only online dementia care training recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CARES Dementia Certification tests a user’s dementia understanding and dementia care knowledge from the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations and published CARES research studies.
Scott Eisenbeisz, Bethesda Aberdeen CEO/Administrator stated, “Our team at Bethesda appreciates Charity’s steadfast dedication to meeting the vast healthcare needs of our residents, clients and their family members affected by dementia. To be the first person in South Dakota to earn this vital credential as a Dementia Specialist, is a testament to Charity’s commitment.”