Strengthening Capacity for Dementia Support within the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Area - The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes (CAT) are a united, federally recognized tribe located in rural, western Oklahoma with headquarters in Concho, OK, situated on the southeastern edge of the Tribal Jurisdictional Area. The CAT Service Area (SA) comprises eleven mostly rural Oklahoma Counties: Beckham, Blaine, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Kingfisher, Oklahoma, Roger Mills, Woodward, and Washita. This program will provide education and awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementias whether they reside within or visit the CAT SA or live far away and will provide direct services and assessments to all living within the vast CAT SA that spans more than 9,000 square miles. There are 14,020 (7,198 females and 6,822 males) enrolled members with more than 20% of tribal members over the age of 45. The CAT has 3,470 enrolled members between the ages of 45 and 70, with 2,488 of those residing in Oklahoma. Like other American Indians, the CAT members experience high rates of health disparities and difficulty accessing healthcare, especially for specialists. The CAT service area has pockets of additional disparities due to rurality, with many Tribal members living in these pockets. The CAT has several programs that serve the population over the age of 45, including the Elder Care Program, Elder Nutrition Services, Social Services, Housing Department, RESpECT program, Community Health Representative program and Community Health Workers (CHW). Dementia, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, poses significant challenges to the aging population of Indian Country. With the increasing prevalence of dementia among Native American communities, there is an urgent need for culturally appropriate interventions and support systems to address this growing public health concern. This proposed project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, culturally sensitive dementia care program to enhance the quality of life for Tribal members living with dementia and their caregivers over a two-year period. It will be guided by an interdisciplinary team of experts in geriatrics, epidemiology, public health, psychology, social work, and Native American health. Project team will collaborate with tribal leaders, community-based organizations, and healthcare providers to ensure the program's cultural relevance and sustainability. The project will focus on five key components: 1) increasing community awareness and education; 2) early detection and diagnosis; 3) caregiver support and training; 4) culturally sensitive dementia care services; and 5) provide comprehensive, person-centered management and referral services for Tribal members. The project's impact will be assessed through a mixed-methods evaluation approach, including: quantitative measures prevalence of cognitive impairment, of dementia knowledge, early detection rates, caregiver burden, and quality of life for individuals with dementia; and qualitative data from focus groups and interviews with stakeholders to understand the program's cultural acceptability and sustainability. By addressing the unique needs and cultural values of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, this project will contribute to the development of a sustainable, culturally sensitive dementia care model that can be replicated in other Native American communities, ultimately improving the health and well-being of individuals with dementia and their families. Recognizing the gaps and difficulty reaching our tribal elders with limited access, this project aims to utilize each of the tribal programs, services, and communications to reach and increase awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition, home visits will be conducted by the CHW and dementia care specialists (DCS) team to conduct assessments and education, specifically targeting the rural pockets often missed by other communication and outreach options.
