Informal and formal workforce training and dementia care competencies across long-term care settings in the U.S.

INTRODUCTION: This study uses data on the dementia care workforce in the U.S. to examine whether the relationship between formal and informal training and dementia care knowledge, attitudes, and practices vary across long-term care settings. METHODS: Data is drawn from the National Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS, wave 1 2024-2025). Logistic regression analyses are used to assess the relationships between training and dementia care competencies and moderation effects by memory care unit for nursing home staff (N = 355) and assisted living staff (N = 404). RESULTS: For nursing home staff, both formal and informal training are associated with greater perceived confidence in dementia care. For assisted living staff, only formal training is associated with more person-centered knowledge about persons living with dementia. Interaction effects of training type by frequency of care in a memory care unit demonstrate that informal training is more impactful for dementia knowledge for assisted living staff who never provide care in memory care units compared to those who provide care all the time in memory care units. DISCUSSION: Findings demonstrate a need for a differentiated training investment strategy responsive to the care environment. In countries or care systems where dedicated memory care units are not common or underfunded, in addition to formal credentialing, informal training is a potentially important workforce development tool to improve both worker and patient outcomes.