Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Culturally Tailored Care: Strengthening Dementia Support Networks in Indigenous Communities - Grant Abstract: Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities: Enhancing Sustainable Models of Care Opportunity number: HHS-2024-IHS-ALZ-0001 The Santo Domingo Pueblo Community Health Representative (CHR) Program recognizes the urgent need to address dementia care within our community, particularly among elderly individuals and their caregivers. Despite our sustained efforts, significant service gaps persist, exacerbated by cultural stigmas and a lack of awareness. Our proposal aims to bridge these gaps by enhancing awareness, improving diagnosis and screening, implementing person-centered care models, providing comprehensive caregiver support, fostering community collaboration, and promoting knowledge exchange. Our initiatives have already yielded promising results, with increased community awareness, improved screening processes, and the establishment of caregiver support groups. Moreover, our program aligns with the Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreement Program (TIPCAP), furthering our commitment to community well-being. Our approach to dementia care within our community is structured around six overarching goals, each supported by Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) objectives. Firstly, we aim to enhance community awareness of dementia through educational initiatives such as workshops and outreach events, targeting a 30% increase in awareness by the end of year one. Secondly, we seek to improve diagnosis by establishing standardized screening protocols in primary care settings, with a goal of achieving a 20% increase in timely diagnoses within six months. Thirdly, we prioritize the implementation of person-centered care by establishing interdisciplinary care teams to develop personalized care plans, aiming to reduce wait times for support services by 25% within two years. Additionally, we aim to provide vital support to caregivers through the establishment of caregiver support groups, with a focus on increasing caregiver satisfaction by 40% within six months. Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental, and our goal is to develop partnerships with local aging services, public health agencies, and community-based organizations to improve coordination of care and services, beginning within the first quarter. Lastly, we aim to promote knowledge exchange by developing and disseminating educational materials and resources to other Indigenous communities within two years, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building. Through thorough needs assessments, stakeholder engagement, evidence-based interventions, and a focus on cultural competence and community engagement, our approach aims to create a sustainable model of dementia care tailored to the specific needs of our community, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. To ensure the longevity of our program, we will diversify funding sources, explore fee-for-service models, and pursue reimbursement opportunities. Concurrently, we will develop culturally relevant tools and resources to support the development of dementia programs in other Indigenous communities. By fostering collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and knowledge exchange, we aim to empower communities to address dementia while honoring their unique cultural identities. In summary, our grant proposal seeks to enhance dementia care in Tribal and Urban Indian communities by addressing service disparities, fostering community collaboration, and promoting sustainability. Through evidence-based interventions and cultural competence, we aim to improve outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).