Introduction to Validation

Naomi Feil, M.S.W., ACSW (1932–2023), was the Founder of the Validation Training Institute. She was the originator of Validation, currently recognized throughout the world as a state-of-the-art method for communicating with older adults diagnosed as having neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Ms. Feil earned her master’s of social work degree from Columbia University and studied at the New School for Social Research, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Michigan. In 1963, she became dissatisfied with traditional therapies for older people with dementia and began to develop her own methods for helping older people cope with the cognitive impairment that is sometimes part of the aging process.

In addition to her earlier book on Validation, Ms. Feil published numerous journal articles and, in collaboration with her husband Edward R. Feil, a documentary filmmaker, produced nine award-winning films on Validation. The Validation Breakthrough has sold more than 55,000 copies in the United States alone in previous editions. She is internationally recognized for her work with older people and was one of the most sought-after trainers in the field. More than 30,000 facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan have adopted Validation, and nearly 90,000 professional and family caregivers have attended her workshops in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. There are 23 Validation centers that teach Validation certification courses in 13 countries.

Naomi Feil passed away on December 24, 2023 at the age of 91. Visit our memory page here.

Vicki de Klerk-Rubin, R.N., M.B.A., is a Validation Master Teacher and the Executive Director of the Validation Training Institute (VTI). As the daughter of Naomi Feil, she strives to continue the legacy her mother started by ensuring that the VTI remains strong and committed to spreading the method she developed with integrity, creativity, and love.

Ms. de Klerk-Rubin assisted in the development of Authorized Validation Organizations (AVOs) throughout the world. She is especially proud of her work with other Validation Teachers in developing the standardized curricula, the Quality Manual, and certification levels. More recently, she has focused on developing online Validation training as well as training for specific groups of people: Validation for Family Caregivers and Validation for First Responders. Each training is focused on the needs of the participant. Every online course follows strict quality standards for online pedagogy.

Ms. de Klerk-Rubin received her master’s degree in business administration from Fordham University (1983) and a nursing degree from Hogeschool Holland, Amsterdam (1997). She has published numerous articles on Validation in Dutch and British magazines and is co-author on revisions of Naomi Feil’s publications. Her book Validation Techniques for Dementia Care: The Family Guide to Improving Communication has been published in English (2008, Health Professions Press), German, Japanese, Swedish, and French. Her newest publication, Validation for First Responders (2019, VTI), is also available in German and French.