GPA program suite
Explore our range of certified training programs designed to support person-centred dementia care across all healthcare settings.
Becoming a GPA Certified Coach
GPA Certified Coaches are authorized to deliver GPA education within their organizations after completing a two-day (15-hour) GPA Coach Training Workshop led by GPA Certified Master Coaches.
What You’ll Learn
- Practical facilitation and coaching skills
- Person-centred and emotion-focused care
- Real-world integration of GPA principles
Who Can Apply
Only staff from dementia or healthcare organizations that have a formal agreement with AGE Inc. are eligible for certification. Certified Coaches must:
- Adhere to GPA standards set by the GPA Advisory Committee
- Use official GPA Coach materials
- Deliver GPA training as part of their professional role (no extra fees may be charged)
Important information about delivering GPA
Organizations and GPA Certified Coaches are not authorized to deliver GPA as an independent, stand-alone program.
GPA education must be integrated into an established health care curriculum or included as part of the core training provided by the employing care organization or government agency.
Organizations or government agencies seeking to train in-house GPA Certified Coaches should contact us to discuss the possibility of arranging a private workshop. Please note that private workshops require a minimum of six participants for virtual sessions and fifteen for in-person sessions. Minimum participant numbers may be subject to change based on location.
Steps to become a GPA Certified Coach
STEP 1 <br /><span>Coach candidate and their employer should review the GPA Certified Coach agreement and requirements</span>
- Review the GPA Certified Coach Agreement
- Confirm the GPA Certified Coach candidate meets the eligibility requirements.
At the time of online registration, you will be required to provide details outlining the following information:
- Experience in dementia care, geriatric care, or a related field
- Experience in teaching
- Relevant job role and ongoing relationship with recipients of GPA education sessions
- Completion of GPA eLearning
STEP 2 <br /><span>Coach candidate registers for a workshop</span>
Register on the Calendar of Events online. Be prepared to enter information related to the prerequisites.
- When registering, use the Coach candidate’s direct email address, as this will be their coach account email address once certified.
- If there is no workshop in your area, please sign up for the workshop notification list.
- Complete GPA eLearning for Coach Candidates.
- Register, pay and select the workshop.
STEP 3 <br /><span>Coach Candidate Pre-, During and Post-Workshop</span>
“The Coach Candidate will receive an email notification of workshop information, including electronic pre-reading materials, a week before the workshop.
- Complete the GPA Certified Coach Workshop. Full attendance, including facilitation is required for certification.
- Complete the post-evaluation and feedback survey. “
STEP 4 <br /><span>Account Set-Up</span>
“The new GPA Certified Coach will receive access to:
- Certification status as a GPA Certified Coach
- AGE Learning Portal login to record all GPA sessions they have facilitated as well as any informal coaching or continuing education they have participated in
- GPA product ordering platform
- Coach tools and tutorials
- GPA Basics session and GPA-R session presentations and resources
- Electronic copy of GPA Certified Coach certification
- Access to all archived Coach Approach Newsletters and Webinars
- Other relevant resources related to GPA
The GPA Certified Coach must sign a copy of the Coach Agreement to complete the certification process prior to coaching a GPA session.
GPA CC understand and agree that all materials in all GPA programs, whether printed, visual, or digital, provided by or originating from the GPA program, including any video clips are trademarked, copyrighted and proprietary of AGE will not be used for any purpose or in any manner other than that expressly authorized and will not copy, reproduce, publicly perform, display, or publicly distribute them nor aid anyone else in doing so, except when expressly authorized by AGE. “
Our Programs
GPA Basics
GPA Basics is the foundational GPA education program. It is delivered by 1-2 GPA Certified Coaches as 4 modules over a 7.5-hour day and is available as an in-person education session or virtual education option.
The session is interactive and practical and is designed to be aligned with individual learning styles, including a mix of experiential exercises, video clips, mini lectures, role play and discussion. GPA Certified Coaches guide participants in fully understanding responsive behaviours, allowing them to respond effectively and appropriately in a workplace setting. GPA Basics also teaches gentle, respectful physical self-protection and redirection techniques for use in situations of risk.
NOTE: 1-2 GPA Certified Coaches is a requirement for both virtual and in-person options, and all participants are required to have the participant manual and educational resources ($).
"Over the past four years, AGE has expanded its reach nationally. From 503 trained coaches in 2021-2022 to 786 in 2024-2025, we achieved a 56% increase. This increase is a clear demonstration of both the demand for GPA and our ability to deliver meaningful, high quality dementia care education.”
Long term care, retirement communities, assisted living, adult day programs, community care programs, home care, acute care and complex continuing care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, etc.
Who should access GPA Basics?
All care partners working in care communities and who interact with older adults- all registered staff, CCA’s, HSWs, LPNs, PSWs, environmental services teams, diagnostic teams, dietary teams, students, security, volunteers, etc.
Integrated GPA
Integrated GPA (iGPA) combines independent eLearning (Part 1) with an in- person or virtual education session led by 1-2 GPA Certified Coaches (Part 2).
iGPA was designed to give organizations a flexible option for accessing and scheduling dementia education. It fits busy schedules, can reduce backfill costs and alleviate scheduling logistics. iGPA is an ideal format for training large groups quickly and efficiently, ensuring swift transfer of knowledge into practice. NOTE: 1-2 GPA Certified Coaches is a requirement for both virtual and in-person options, and all participants are required to have the participant manual and educational resources ($).
NOTE: 1 -2 GPA Certified Coaches is a requirement for both virtual and in-person options, and all participants are required to have the participant manual and educational resources ($).
Where is this education commonly accessed?
Long term care, retirement communities, assisted living, adult day programs, community care programs, home care, acute care and complex continuing care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, etc.
Who should access iGPA?
All care partners working in care communities and who interact with older adults, including registered staff, CCAs, HSWs, LPNs, PSWs, environmental services teams, diagnostic teams, dietary teams, students, security, volunteers, etc.
Is iGPA considered equivalent to GPA Basics, the foundational education program?
Yes, iGPA is comprised of the same content as GPA Basics and maintains AGE’s commitment to high-quality evidence-based learning that gives participants the skills, knowledge and confidence they need for successful outcomes in care communities. The total time to complete iGPA is 7.5 hours.
GPA eLearning
It allows participants to learn at their own pace, at times that are most convenient for them. Through GPA eLearning, participants gain a deeper understanding of dementia and responsive behaviours, and develop the skills to respond effectively, respectfully, and safely in healthcare settings. For the most integrated, immersive experience, AGE recommends finishing the course in one session (2.5 to 3 hours).
Is GPA eLearning the same as GPA Basics or iGPA?
No. GPA eLearning is not intended to replace the full-day GPA Basics program. The GPA Certified Coach-facilitated GPA Basics or iGPA is the recommended education format for formal care partners for people living with dementia.
Where is this education commonly accessed?
Long term care, retirement communities, assisted living, adult day programs, community care programs, home care, acute care and complex continuing care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, etc. as part of iGPA or in post-secondary education programs.
Who should access GPA eLearning?
All care partners who are enrolled in iGPA and working in care communities interacting with older adults, including all registered staff, CCA’s, HSWs, LPNs, PSWs, environmental services teams, diagnostic teams, dietary teams, students, security, volunteers, etc. In addition, students in post-secondary programs such as LPN, RPN, Social Work, Gerontology, RN, OT, PT, PSW, CCA, HSW, etc.
GPA Recharged
It is designed to review key principles and strategies one year after completing GPA Basics or the iGPA program. Designed as a GPA knowledge and skills refresher for professional care partners, GPA-R helps keep GPA principles top of mind when providing emotion-based and person-centred approaches to care.
Participants work together as a team to complete learning activities, discuss current care situations, and engage in solution- finding for some of the complex scenarios that take place in various care communities. NOTE: 1-2 GPA Certified Coaches is a requirement for both virtual and in-person options, and all participants are required to have the participant manual and educational resources ($).
NOTE: 1-2 GPA Certified Coaches is a requirement for both virtual and in-person options, and all participants are required to have the participant manual and educational resources ($).
Where is this education commonly accessed?
Long term care, retirement communities, assisted living, adult day programs, community care programs, home care, acute care and complex continuing care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, etc.
Who should access GPA-Recharged?
All care partners working in care communities and who interact with older adults, including registered staff, CCAs, HSWs, LPNs, PSWs, environmental services teams, diagnostic teams, dietary teams, students, security, volunteers, etc.
GPA Bathing
GPA Bathing is a complementary online dementia education program for learners who have successfully completed GPA®Basics, iGPA, or GPA eLearning. It guides participants in applying foundational GPA® knowledge and skills within the specific context of bathing in an interactive online learning environment.
GPA Bathing offers specific approaches and strategies to provide safe, respectful, and effective hygienic care by applying an emotional and holistic process.
The program was designed to address the current gap in education and training for professional care partners and students who are required to provide hygienic care to individuals prone to verbally or physically refusing assistance with bathing. The final unit of GPA Bathing is a GPA Certified Coach-facilitated huddle, with the aim of supporting learners in applying principles and strategies from GPA Bathing to specific cases within their care environments. NOTE: 1 GPA Certified Coach is a requirement, and all participants are required to have the resources ($).
NOTE: 1 GPA Certified Coach is a requirement, and all participants are required to have the resources ($).
Who should access GPA Bathing?
All care partners who have completed GPA Basics, iGPA or GPA eLearning and who support hygienic care.
Where is this education commonly accessed?
Long term care, retirement communities, assisted living, adult day programs, community care programs, home care, acute care and complex continuing care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, etc.