Program Overview

This activity will prepare community health workers to connect older adults and their caregivers to essential resources needed to support their care. This is especially important in rural, underserved, and tribal communities. 

According to AARP, “The population of the United States is rapidly aging. By 2030, one of every five people in the U.S. will be 65 or older. By 2035, the number of adults older than 65 will be greater than that of children under 18” (AARP, 2022). By 2060, that number is expected to climb to about 98 million, or nearly 25% of US residents.

Depression and dementia are growing public health concerns among older adults, as both conditions are often underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially in underserved communities. Depression in older adults is frequently mistaken for normal aging or goes unrecognized due to stigma, while dementia can progress silently, leading to late-stage diagnosis when fewer interventions are effective. Early symptoms, such as memory lapses, mood changes, or withdrawal, can be subtle, making it crucial to detect these issues sooner.

Earlier screening and referral are key to improving outcomes, as timely interventions can slow cognitive decline in dementia and improve the quality of life in depression. Community health workers (CHWs) play a pivotal role in addressing this gap by using screening tools to identify early signs within the community, fostering trust with older adults, and connecting them to care before these conditions become more debilitating. Through proactive screening and engagement, CHWs can help mitigate the impact of depression and dementia, improving mental health and cognitive well-being among older populations.

Learning Goal and Outcome

Learning Goal: Participants will increase their knowledge and skills to support older adults and caregivers in age-friendly and dementia-friendly care, especially in rural, underserved, and tribal communities.

Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to explain basic facts about dementia including Alzheimer's Disease using principles of age-friendly and dementia-friendly care. Participants will also gain strategies for connecting older adults and their caregivers to health care and community resources.

Funding

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1QHP53050. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Health Resources and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.