Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System Models of Dementia Care - PROJECT ABSTRACT The Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally recognized tribe located in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The tribe has 4,645 enrolled tribal members. The Absentee Shawnee Tribe offers a wide variety of services and programs to tribal community members. The tribe has a culturally-sensitive , quality health care system for American Indians that promotes good health and disease prevention through a multi-disciplinary team using holistic and evidence-based practices that address all health issues and educational needs while protecting individual confidentiality. The Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System (ASTHS) is comprised of four clinics, ASTHS Vision Clinic, Little Axe Health Center, PlusCare, and Shawnee Clinic, serving the healthcare needs of many Native Americans and the surrounding communities. The goal of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma in securing this grant opportunity in order to develop its Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System’s services to formalize and enhance our patient-centered dementia-capable system of care to meet the emerging and ever-changing needs of dementia patients and caregivers within our rural, non-reservation, American Indian population. This shared vision shall expand and enhance the continuum of care of dementia services, identify and reduce symptoms and their negative impact on health, improve caregiver well-being, reduce costly health utilization, and improve tribal elder health. Utilizing inclusive population-level screening, an evidenced-based practice, and an aggressive care coordination and referral process that makes use of existing and newly established resources, the project shall provide the foundation for delivering and sustaining effective, efficient, and culturally appropriate dementia treatment services in our American Indian population. By establishing a solid functioning Model of Dementia Care, we can define the need for more services, the gaps between needed and available services, barriers to care, and other problems related to the need to enhance and expand dementia screening, treatment, early intervention, and long-term services for American Indians at risk of or currently experience issues related to dementia. The project shall engage stakeholders; consider needs; identify resources specific to dementia related care; improve coordination in dementia services; and implement evidence-based strategies including health risks associated with dementia.
