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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Program

Training and Education

The IHS Alzheimer's Grant Program works with IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health programs and clinicians to increase skill and expertise in recognizing, diagnosing, assessing, and managing the care for persons living with dementia and in supporting their caregivers.

Online Training and Education Resources

Alzheimer's Association Continuing Education

The Alzheimer's Association offers continuing medical education on Alzheimer's and dementia Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov , including free CEU options, designed to help physicians, radiologists, neurologists, nurses, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, psychiatrists, and other clinicians to remain current in the field.

HRSA Dementia Training Curriculum

HRSA's comprehensive dementia training curriculum Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  provides a module-based overview of dementia, including the needs of caregivers. Each module includes a presentation, references, and a faculty guide. Continuing Education Credits are currently available but may be discontinued during a period of curriculum update and revision.

TRAIN Learning Network

TRAIN is a national learning network that provides thousands of quality training opportunities for more than 2 million professionals who protect and improve the public's health. Train hosts online learning Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  developed by the VA, CDC, and others, available through a search for "dementia" or "Alzheimer's" in their course catalog. Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  CME/CEU available

Dental Courses

The IHS Continuing Dental Education site offers a catalog of continuing dental education (CDE) for IHS, tribal, urban, and contract dental personnel only. The CDE catalog currently includes two Alzheimer's focused courses, available through a search for “dementia” in the catalog. Users must have or create a login to access this content.

Indian Country Dementia ECHOs

Indian Country Dementia Caregiver ECHO

Indian Country Echo logo plugged in

This 1-hour virtual ECHO provides mentorship, peer support, and training for staff supporting the all-important caregivers of those living with dementia in our Tribes and communities.

Indian Country Clinical Dementia ECHO

The 1-hour virtual ECHO clinic allows clinical staff to participate in case discussions, receive recommendations from an inter-professional team of specialists working in Indian Country, and join a learning community.

This ECHO aims to strengthen clinical staff knowledge and confidence to detect, diagnose, and manage care for American Indian and Alaska Native people living with dementia and treat patients locally with holistic, culturally appropriate care.

Other Training and Education Resources

Indian Health Geriatric Scholars

The Indian Health Geriatric Scholars (GeriScholars) pilot has been developed with the support and collaboration of the VA Office of Rural Health and takes as its model the highly successful VA Geriatric Scholars Program that has built geriatric expertise into the primary care workforce over the past decade.

an elder woman

The Indian Health GeriScholars pilot will provide participating IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health clinicians with an individual intensive learning track for professional continuing education, mentored support for a local quality improvement project, and a practicum or mentored advanced learning opportunity.

Visit the GeriScholars Program page for more information.

Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship Program

The IHS Division of Nursing Services (DNS), in partnership with the IHS Alzheimer's Grant Program, established the inaugural Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship Program pilot cohort beginning in 2024.

The Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship pilot will offer participating IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Organization (I/T/U) nurses a 7 month professional development program that combines virtual classroom and real-world experience in collaboration with experienced mentors.

The aim of the Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship pilot is to empower the I/T/U nursing workforce with the knowledge and skills to serve as local leaders and champions of holistic, evidence-based, integrated care for aging tribal populations.

Visit the Indian Health Geriatric Nurse Fellowship page for more information.

VA Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training and Addressing Behavioral Challenges in Dementia for Rural Tribal and IHS Clinics

The VA Office of Rural Health supports two on-site training opportunities for rural Tribal and IHS clinics serving older Native Veterans: Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training (RITT) and Addressing Behavioral Challenges with Dementia (ABCD). The Rural Interdisciplinary Team Training (RITT) component of provides on-site and virtual training for rural healthcare providers and staff to enhance interdisciplinary care with team-based solutions, with a special focus on care of older Veterans. RITT audiences include the full healthcare team, including clerks, primary care providers, social workers, pharmacists, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, and others who provide healthcare for older people.

RITT offers both full- and half-day trainings, accredited for 6.5 and 3.75 hours of CME/CEUs, respectively. Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Dementia (ABCD), which is also accredited for 6.5 and 3.75 hours of CME/CEUs, respectively, can be added to RITT training. ABCD focuses on brain health, recognizing dementia, and tips for supporting caregivers of people living with dementia. ABCD audiences include public health nurses, community health nurses, care managers, and community health representatives; other clinicians are encouraged to attend. For more information email Josea Kramer, PhD or the IHS Alzheimer’s’ Grant program.