Paragon Home Care earns Virginia’s first national seal for dementia care

Paragon Home Care has become the first and only home care agency in Virginia to earn the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners’ Seal of Excellence. The designation puts the McLean-based provider into a national network for dementia care and highlights growing caregiver training as demand for home-based memory support rises.

Why it matters: - Paragon Home Care is now the first and only home care agency in Virginia recognized with NCCDP’s Seal of Excellence for dementia care. - The designation signals that Paragon meets national standards for dementia training, staffing and care practices at a time when more families are seeking support to keep loved ones at home. - Membership in NCCDP’s Memory Care Excellence Network connects Paragon to ongoing best-practice and outcomes research.

What happened: - Paragon Home Care earned the Seal of Excellence from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. - The McLean-based, licensed non-medical home care provider serves families across Northern Virginia. - The recognition makes Paragon a member of NCCDP’s Memory Care Excellence Network. - Paragon is the first home care agency in Virginia to receive the designation.

The details: - NCCDP requires at least half of an organization’s full-time care staff to hold NCCDP dementia credentials. - NCCDP also requires an NCCDP-certified dementia trainer on staff. - Organizations must submit their most recent state survey for review. - More than half of Paragon’s caregivers now hold the Certified Dementia Practitioner credential. - Paragon says that number is growing each month through monthly caregiver training. - Paragon provides in-house dementia training through a certified Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care trainer. - Caregivers are trained in dementia-specific communication, distress prevention and de-escalation, and routines that support dignity and independence at home. - The company was founded in 2013 and is based in McLean, Virginia. - Paragon’s services include companionship, personal care, dementia and memory care support, respite, and its Neighbors care-coordination program. - Paragon is licensed by the Virginia Department of Health. - Paragon is a Home Care Pulse Top 100 Leader in Experience. - The company says its team includes more than 130 caregivers and staff.

Between the lines: - The designation suggests Paragon is using training as a core operating model rather than a one-time compliance step. - The annual renewal requirement means the company will need to keep meeting NCCDP standards, not just clear them once. - For families, the credential can serve as a shortcut for identifying agencies that have invested in dementia-specific care infrastructure. - “Training is part of our culture, not a one-time class,” said Attilio Manziano, chief operating officer of Paragon Home Care. - “Our caregivers know the person behind the diagnosis, and that consistency is what keeps clients safe and comfortable at home longer,” Manziano said.

What’s next: - Paragon’s MCEN membership will be renewed annually if the agency continues to meet NCCDP standards. - The company will keep participating in NCCDP best-practice and outcomes research. - Families seeking dementia care at home can contact Paragon Home Care at 703.942.8950 or visit the company’s website. - NCCDP says its broader mission includes training and certifications for caregivers and healthcare organizations worldwide.

The bottom line: - Paragon has turned dementia training into a competitive differentiator and a national credential, not just an internal program.