Title : Closing gaps by addressing racial & ethnic disparities in Alzheimer’s disease and reducing the cost and risk of dementia in diverse communities
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: More than 5 million of Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to increase to 14 million in 2050. According to UsAgainstAlz., Alzheimer’s will cost Latino families a cumulative $2.3 trillion by 2060 and the number of Latinos with AD is expected to increase by 832% (379,000 to 1.1 million) from 2012 to 2060 (USC).
Addressing disparities: In 2018 the US Administration for Community Living funded LAMDAs Community Health Workers model. By 2021, this program reached about 7,000 individuals in Chicago, conducted 710 MS, and encouraged individuals to see a physician for diagnosis. In October 2020, the Milken Institute’s report “Better Brain Health through Equity” highlighted the CHW Model to address their recommendations: 1) Build a dementia-capable and culturally competent workforce through recruitment, retention, and increased interdisciplinary training. 2) Increase community outreach and engagement to improve brain health awareness in racially and ethnically diverse communities. In November 2020, the US-National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, also recommended the CHW Model to be replicated in other States of the USA.
About CHWs Model This is an evidence base program that proven mechanisms for trusted community members to deliver culturally competent education and services into diverse communities. CHWs are community leaders and have previous training on known AD risk factors to 1) conduct outreach and community education activities to identify families needing services; 2) assess, educate, support, and connect families to community services in a culturally appropriate way; and 3) facilitate caregiver trainings and assist families to better understand available service options.
Audience Takeaway:
Audience will learn how the Community Health Worker Model close the gaps of services for people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and their Caregivers. Service Gap 1: Provision of effective supportive services to persons living alone with ADRD in the community. Service Gap 2: Improvement of the quality and effectiveness of programs and services dedicated to individuals aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities with ADRD or those at high risk of developing ADRD. Service Gap 3: Delivery of behavioral symptom management training and expert consultation for family caregivers.
- After this presentation, audience will learn how to use the Cultural Component to addresses Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease and Reducing the Cost and Risk of Dementia in Diverse Communities.
- The Community Health Workers Curriculum can be replicate and use after 35 hours of training from the author.
- The CHWs program increases community outreach and engagement to improve brain health awareness in racially and ethnically diverse and other underserved communities. The Administration of Community Living of the USA recommend the use of Evaluation Tools like: Dementia Quality of Life (DEMQOL), Dementia Capability Assessment Tool, and CHW Training Act Alzheimer's Collaborative Training tool.
- Community Health Workers model provides evidence base methods of intervention that builds a dementia-capable and culturally competent workforce through recruitment, retention, and increased interdisciplinary training.
