HealthCare Interactive

What HealthCare Interactive does

HealthCare Interactive, Inc. is a private Minneapolis-based company founded in 1997 by CEO John V. Hobday that develops and sells the CARES® online dementia care training, certification, and credentialing platform. The company's core technology is an evidence-based e-learning system built around the proprietary CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ (Connect, Assess, Respond, Evaluate, Share), delivered through video-based interactive modules using real-life footage (no actors), knowledge checks, printable worksheets, certification exams, and an administrative portal for group training and progress tracking. The portfolio spans ten CARES programs covering basics, safety, behavior, activities of daily living, end-of-life care, elder abuse prevention, serious mental illness, families, and hospitals, with localized variants in Spanish and state-approved versions for Florida and California.

HealthCare Interactive monetizes through a mix of one-time individual purchases ($199 per program, $299 bundles, $999 C.D.S. credentialing exam) and tiered organizational licensing (per-user from $999, single-site unlimited from $1,999, Complete Catalog single-site license at $9,999), plus ancillary merchandise such as CARES® Reminder Cards, Lapel Pins, and Posters. Distribution is direct via the company's own e-commerce storefront (training.hcinteractive.com) for individuals and SMBs, and inside/phone sales for enterprise healthcare accounts, with no third-party resellers. The company sells a freemium hospital preview (modules 1-2) as a top-of-funnel acquisition tool.

The company's customer base spans senior care organizations (assisted living facilities, nursing homes, memory care), hospitals and medical centers, individual healthcare professionals pursuing the C.D.S. credential, family caregivers, California CNAs through the CUSP program, and Florida state-regulated providers. HealthCare Interactive's principal competitive differentiators are its status as the only online dementia care training recognized by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), its Florida DOEA approvals across six provider types, and its 20-publication peer-reviewed research base funded in part by the National Institute on Aging and developed in conjunction with the national Alzheimer's Association and NYU Langone Medical Center. The company is privately held, founder-led, with 1-10 employees and no disclosed outside funding.

Name

HealthCare Interactive

Legal name

HealthCare Interactive, Inc.

Website

https://hcinteractive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HealthCare Interactive is a private Minneapolis-based company that develops and sells the CARES® online dementia care training, certification, and credentialing platform, serving senior care facilities, hospitals, individual healthcare professionals, California CNAs, and family caregivers with CMS-recognized, evidence-based e-learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Training & Education Software

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Caregiver Support, Coaching & Training (HLADALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dementia Care Coordination & Care Planning (HSABAEAJ), Post-Diagnosis Transition & Hospital-to-Home Dementia Support (HSABAEAL)

Keywords

• Online dementia training
• Caregiver certification programs
• Healthcare e-learning platform
• Person-centered care training
• Long-term care staff education

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Program & Certification Sales: Direct-to-consumer online purchase of individual CARES programs with included certification at $199 per program, or 2-program bundles at $299; one-time purchase grants access to training and certification exam.
2. Organization Licensing (Per-User & Single-Site Unlimited): Tiered organizational licensing for assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, and care organizations: per-user pricing from $999 and single-site "unlimited" pricing from $1,999, including certification at no additional cost.
3. Complete Catalog Single-Site License: $9,999 single-site license grants access to all 10 CARES programs with unlimited certifications, classroom guides for in-person training, administrative portal access, and unlimited $150 exam vouchers for C.D.S. credentialing.
4. CARES® Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.) Credentialing Exam: $999 standalone credentialing exam covering the full 40-hour curriculum (8 courses/40 modules) with a 90% pass threshold, payment-plan option, 50% renewal discount, and inclusion in the C.D.S. International Registry.
5. California CNA Upskilling Program (CUSP) Specialty Tracks: Specialty track licensing for California CNAs and supervisors: $159 CNA purchase and $359 supervisor purchase (supervisor includes specialized supervisor training and nursing CEUs).
6. CARES® Observational Tool (COT) Licensing: Copyrighted proprietary tool licensed by organizations for staff observation, training, and documentation of person-centered dementia care; tiered license plans available.
7. Promotional/Recognition Merchandise: Sale of CARES® Reminder Cards, Promotional Pins, CARES® Approach Flyers, and Posters as ancillary recognition products to support organizational training campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HealthCare Interactive sells the CARES® online dementia care training, certification, and credentialing platform, anchored by the proprietary CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ and the research-validated CARES® Observational Tool (COT™). Delivered via the training.hcinteractive.com web portal, the platform provides 10 specialty modules (safety, behavior, ADLs, end-of-life, elder abuse, serious mental illness, families, hospitals, Spanish) with per-program certification, the 40-hour CARES® Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.) credential, complete-catalog site licenses, Florida-approved variants, and California CUSP upskilling tracks for senior care organizations, hospitals, individual professionals, and family caregivers.

Product overview

HealthCare Interactive offers a unified dementia-care education platform — the CARES® (Connect, Assess, Respond, Evaluate, Share) product family — built around the proprietary CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ and the accompanying CARES® Observational Tool (COT™). The portfolio is a platform-plus-modules architecture: a single online training portal (training.hcinteractive.com) and admin portal delivers the flagship CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ plus a stack of specialty modules — Dementia Safety Topics™, Dementia-Related Behavior™, ADLs 4-Hour and 10-Hour, End-of-Life Dementia Care™, Elder Abuse Prevention™, Serious Mental Illness™, the Families variant, the Hospitals (acute care) variant, and a Spanish-language version. On top of the modules, HealthCare Interactive layers two recognition tiers: the per-program CARES® Dementia Certification™ exam and the higher-stakes CARES® Dementia Specialist™ (C.D.S.) 40-hour credential. The company also sells the CARES® Complete Catalog™ (single-site unlimited bundle, $9,999), the per-user/per-site training products with state-approved Florida variants and a California CUSP upskilling program for CNAs, plus staff recognition merchandise (Posters, Reminder Cards, Lapel Pins). Products are designed to help organizations meet CMS, Florida DOEA, NAB, CDPH/ANCC and Alzheimer's Association-aligned dementia training and certification requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARES®: The company's flagship line of online dementia care training, certification, and credentialing programs built around the CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ (Connect with the Person, Assess Behavior, Respond Appropriately, Evaluate What Works, Share with Others). Includes 10 online training programs covering topics such as the 5-Step Method, Safety Topics, Dementia-Related Behavior, Activities of Daily Living, End-of-Life Care, Elder Abuse Prevention, Serious Mental Illness, Families, Hospitals, and Spanish-language training.
• Savvy Caregiver
• CARES® Dementia Specialist (C.D.S.)
• CARES® Observational Tool (COT)
• California CNA Upskilling Program (CUSP)

Products and services

• CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ Evidence-based 4-hour, 4-module online training and certification teaching the CARES® 5-Step Approach (Connect, Assess, Respond, Evaluate, Share). Covers introduction to dementia, person-centered care, behavior as communication, and the 5-step CARES Approach. Available for organizations, individuals, and families.
• CARES® Dementia Safety Topics™ 6-hour, 6-module online training and certification focused on safety and compliance topics including food and fluid intake, pain, wandering, falls, eliminating restraints, and making a connection. Builds on the CARES® 5-Step Method.
• CARES® Dementia-Related Behavior™ Online training and certification focused on responding to challenging behaviors such as fear, frustration, anger, yelling, cursing, hitting, biting, public urination, and respectful handling of sexual behavior. Builds on the CARES® 5-Step Method.
• CARES® Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) 4-Hour™ 4-hour ADL training covering eating, toileting, and bathing across all stages of dementia-related thinking decline (early to late stage). Builds on the CARES® 5-Step Method.
• CARES® Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) 10-Hour™ 10-hour, 10-module expanded ADL training adding dressing, grooming, mouth care, pain, mobility, transferring, and positioning on top of the 4-hour ADL topics.
• CARES® End-of-Life Dementia Care™ 5-hour, 5-module training and certification covering comfort care, emotional support, and spiritual support at end of life for people living with dementia. Builds on the CARES® 5-Step Method.
• CARES® Elder Abuse Prevention™ 3-hour, 4-module elder abuse awareness and prevention training describing the 7 types of elder abuse, how to recognize signs, prevention strategies, and local/national resources.
• CARES® Serious Mental Illness™ Online training describing the 4 major types of serious mental illness, how SMI differs from Alzheimer's and dementia, and how to develop care strategies for residents with SMI (major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder).
• CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method for Families™ 4-hour, 4-module family-focused training and certification for family members caring for a loved one at home, in independent living, or assisted living. Includes practical strategies and was developed in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association with grant funding from the National Institute on Aging.
• CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method for Hospitals™ 8-hour, 16-module acute-care training and certification exam targeting prevention of costly adverse events (delirium, falls, UTIs, aspiration, pressure ulcers, elder abuse, readmissions) across four courses plus a focus on adverse-event prevention. Modules 1-2 are free preview. Developed with the Alzheimer's Association and NYU Langone Medical Center.
• CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method™ in Spanish Spanish-language version of the flagship CARES® 5-Step Method program. All program text, audio narration, video closed captioning (CC), and the certification exam are provided in Spanish.
• CARES® Dementia Specialist™ (C.D.S.) Credential 40-hour, 40-module credentialing program (8 courses) requiring completion of all CARES training plus passing the C.D.S. exam with ≥90%. Awarded by HealthCare Interactive; recipients are listed on the C.D.S. International Registry and may use "C.D.S." on their name badge and resume. Priced at $999 (50% off separate program purchase).
• CARES® Observational Tool (COT™) Proprietary, copyrighted 16-item observational tool used to assess staff person-centered dementia care behaviors (e.g., greet the person, introduce yourself, smile/eye contact, 15-second rule, write and document). Licensed for staff training, observations, peer practice, documentation, and surveyor/inspector evidence. Validated via Gaugler, Hobday & Savik (2013) in Journal of Geriatric Nursing; developed under a National Institute on Aging grant.
• CARES® Complete Catalog™ Single-Site License Single-site license ($9,999) providing full access to all 10 CARES® programs with unlimited certifications, plus unlimited discounted $150 C.D.S. exam vouchers, classroom guides, and admin portal access for marketing and staff training.
• CARES® Florida-Approved Versions Special versions of CARES® formally approved by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) to meet state dementia training requirements for Adult Day Care, Assisted Living Facilities (Level I & II), Home Health, Hospice, and Nursing Homes, with state approval numbers (e.g., #11371, #11372, #10493, #10124, #10125, #9973). John Hobday is the approved State of Florida trainer (trainer #209).
• California CNA Upskilling Program (CUSP) CUSP offers Behavioral Health Specialty (Level IVa) and Dementia Specialty (Level IVb) for California CNAs, addressing serious mental illness and dementia behavior challenges. Includes CARES® certification; approved provider for CDPH, ANCC & NAB; recognized by the Alzheimer's Association. CNA purchase $159; Supervisor purchase $359 (includes specialized supervisor training and nursing CEUs).
• Savvy Caregiver Spanish DVD Program Series of 4 Spanish-subtitled DVDs led by facilitator Judy Dolloff (LCSW, Centura Health, Denver). Developed with experts from University of Minnesota, Emory University, Duke University, and Michigan State University. Helps family caregivers caring for loved ones with memory loss or dementia.
• CARES® Staff Recognition Products Physical recognition products including CARES® Posters and Flyers (https://training.hcinteractive.com/373), CARES® Reminder Cards, and CARES® Lapel Pins (https://training.hcinteractive.com/356) to promote and reinforce the CARES Approach among staff.
• National Parkinson's Foundation Network™ Online Training Program Online training program extending HCI's evidence-based online caregiver training model beyond dementia to Parkinson's disease, recognized with the 2019 eHealthcare Leadership Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of users found that CARES® gave them new ideas on how to care for someone with memory loss or dementia
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Alzheimer's Association (National Office)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARES® Dementia 5-Step Method for Families™ was developed in conjunction with the National office of the Alzheimer's Association and guided by a national team of experts. The hospital program was also completed in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations are embedded in every CARES program.
• NYU Langone Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CARES® Dementia 5-Step Method for Hospitals™ program was completed in conjunction with researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center. Co-authored published research study: Hobday, J. V., Gaugler, J. E., & Mittelman, M. S. (2017). Feasibility and utility of online dementia care training for hospital staff: The CARES® Dementia-Friendly Hospitals™ Program. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 10(2), 58-65.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Savvy Caregiver DVD was developed in conjunction with a team of experts including researchers from the University of Minnesota (also referenced in published research collaborations).
• Emory UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Savvy Caregiver DVD was developed in conjunction with researchers from Emory University.
• Duke UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Savvy Caregiver DVD was developed in conjunction with researchers from Duke University.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Savvy Caregiver DVD was developed in conjunction with researchers from Michigan State University.
• Florida Department of Elder AffairsflagshipOthersThe Florida Department of Elder Affairs formally approved multiple versions of CARES® to meet Florida dementia training requirements (Adult Day Care, Assisted Living Facilities, Home Health, Hospice, Nursing Homes). John Hobday is the approved State of Florida trainer (Trainer #209).
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) / ANCC / NABflagshipOthersCARES® CUSP (Level IVa Behavioral Health and Level IVb Dementia Specialty) is delivered as an Approved Provider of continuing education through CDPH, ANCC, and NAB pathways for California CNAs and supervisors.
• University of Minnesota (COT Research Collaboration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored COT research publication: Gaugler, J. E., Hobday, J. V., & Savik, K. (2013). The CARES® Observational Tool: A valid and reliable instrument to assess person-centered dementia care. Journal of Geriatric Nursing, 34(3), 194-98. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.01.002.
• Centura HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJudy Dolloff, LCSW, a Centura Health social worker in Denver, served as the facilitator for the Savvy Caregiver Spanish DVD, leveraging 20+ years of experience training and supporting family caregivers.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CareAcademy: Online caregiver training and certification platform for home care, assisted living, and family caregivers. Closest direct competitor in the online caregiver certification model, though CareAcademy emphasizes home/personal care while HCI is dementia-specialized.
• Dementia Care Specialists (DCS by Crisis Prevention Institute): Provides dementia-care training and the Certified Dementia Practitioner-aligned pathway inside CPI's behavior-management portfolio. Competes for the same LTC and assisted-living training spend, but DCS's offering sits within a broader crisis-prevention curriculum rather than a pure dementia specialty.
• National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP): Certifying body for Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP) and Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainers (CADDCT). Competes directly with HCI's C.D.S. credential by offering a recognized dementia-care certification pathway.

Broad incumbents

• HealthStream: Enterprise healthcare learning and workforce-development platform used by hospitals and health systems. Competes for the same healthcare-L&D budget as HCI; HealthStream offers dementia content as part of a much broader compliance and clinical library.
• Relias: Large healthcare workforce-training platform serving hospitals, senior care, and home health with mandatory training libraries. Directly competes with CARES for organizational dementia-training budget, though Relias offers a much broader catalog rather than specializing in dementia.
• MedBridge: Continuing-education and patient-engagement platform for rehabilitation, nursing, and allied health professionals. Competes for the same healthcare CE budget, with dementia-related content as part of a broader therapy and nursing catalog.

Regional players

• Senior Helpers (in-house caregiver training programs): National in-home senior care franchise with proprietary caregiver training. Competes for the same training-of-caregivers budget across senior care organizations and could substitute HCI's content with internally developed modules for member franchises.

Others

• Alzheimer's Association (Education & Training Programs): National nonprofit offering its own dementia-care training, essentiALZ certification, and practice recommendations. HCI explicitly partners with the Alzheimer's Association, so this is more of a partner-ecosystem player than a competitor, but it offers adjacent certification that could substitute for CARES modules.
• CCAL - Consumer Consortium for Advancing Person-Centered Living / Pioneer Network: Nonprofit culture-change and person-centered-care advocacy and education organization for eldercare. Allied ecosystem participant that promotes person-centered dementia practices similar to CARES but does not sell competing certification products.
• PointClickCare (LTC/SNF operating system): Major electronic health record and operations platform for skilled nursing and senior living. Adjacent ecosystem player that bundles compliance and training capabilities, potentially competing for training budget or offering a marketplace where HCI could distribute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/hcinteractive
• Facebookfacebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/HealthCare-Interactive/263175861517?ref=ts
• Xx.com/hcinteractive

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HealthCare Interactive