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IHS Blog Post by the Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Program for Alzheimer's Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer's Awareness Month. Visit the IHS Newsroom's blog section for a feature on IHS Alzheimer's Grants: Helping Put the Puzzle Together for Tribal and Urban Indian Communities.

National Native Family Caregiver Month

Native Family Caregivers: 6 in 10 are women, 1 in 3 care for a parent or in-law, and about half provide 20 hours of care a week.

Join IHS in recognizing all the amazing Native family caregivers this November. You are a caregiver if you are caring for someone who needs help because of a health problem or disability. You are not alone. One in three American Indian and Alaska Native adults is a caregiver. Culture is the great connector between caregivers and their loved ones. Caring for family is a deeply held value across many cultures.

IHS Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Cohort

The IHS Division of Nursing Services, in partnership with the Alzheimer's Grant Program, offers technical assistance, access to existing training resources, and reimbursement of accreditation fees for IHS, tribal, and urban emergency departments interested in seeking geriatric ED accreditation. The 2024 cohort joins the nine IHS and tribal EDs that have already achieved the Level 3 – Bronze accreditation offered by the American College of Emergency Physicians. Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Why participate? The number of Native older adults ages 65 and older is expected to triple in the next 30 years, with those 85 years and older growing even quicker. As age increases, so does the number of ED visits. Geriatric accredited EDs reduce the chance of avoidable patient admissions and re-visits while improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. To learn more about GEDA or how to participate in the next cohort, email Ardith Aspaas at or visit our GEDA page.

Indian Health Service Team: IHS Awards $1.5 Million to Address Alzheimer's Disease on World Alzheimer's Day

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On World Alzheimer's Day, September 21, the IHS reaffirmed its commitment to building tribal and urban Indian health system capacity to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by announcing $1.5 million in eight new cooperative agreements. The IHS Alzheimer’s Grant Program aims to develop and enhance models that incorporate comprehensive approaches to care and service for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Total funding for both years of the new 2-year grants is estimated at $3 million.

Alzheimer Grant Program Site Visits

In July and September 2023, the IHS Elder Health Team conducted site visits with the four Dementia Models of Care grantee programs. Read more about the focus and value of these visits.

May is Older Americans Month

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The May 2023 #OlderAmericansMonth theme was "Aging Unbound," exploring a wide range of aging experiences and promoting the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment as we age. Read the White House Proclamation on Older Americans Month, 2023 Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov . IHS posted graphics and messages, including submissions from tribal elders, friends and families across IHS social media channels throughout the month. To learn more about 2023 Older Americans Month, visit the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Administration on Aging. Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

HHS Addressing Disparities and Risk Reduction for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease: 2022 Update Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov . Through the Plan, HHS and its federal partners are working to improve research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), increase support for people living with dementia and their caregivers, and encourage action to reduce risk factors.


Alzheimer's Association: Navajo Tribal Member Coordinates Alzheimer's Training Through IHS

The Alzheimer's Association has posted a blog post Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  on Valerie Jones, elder health care data coordinator with IHS and a member of the Navajo Nation. The post shares how the Association and the IHS are working together to address and improve the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives living with Alzheimer's disease and all other dementias, and their caregivers.


Models of Care funding Grantees Announced

Grantees for the Addressing Alzheimer’s in Indian Country: Models of Care funding have been announced.