Celebrating the Indian Health GeriScholars: Champions of Elder Health

The Indian Health GeriScholars Pilot Program, launched in August 2022, significantly impacts elder care within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Managed by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Alzheimer's team, the program equips healthcare professionals with geriatric expertise to improve the health and well-being of elders. 

LCDR Gerrick Jones represented the Indian Health GeriScholars at the 2023 IHS Director's Award Ceremony on August 30, 2024.

The Indian Health GeriScholars received the IHS Director's Award for 2022 and 2023, recognizing their dedication as elder health champions. The 2022 and 2023 cohorts cross ten IHS Areas, 16 states, and over 20 hospitals and clinics.

Dr. Gerrick Jones, IHS Catawba Service Unit Pharmacist of the United States Public Health Service, recently accepted the IHS Director's Award on behalf of the GeriScholar Program team. Dr. Jones was among those who completed the 2023 GeriScholars program.

"The benefits that the GeriScholar program has provided my community will continue long after the conclusion of the program. It has allowed us to establish a groundwork that will make early detection of dementia a critical component of the healthcare that we provide," Jones said.  

The program offers comprehensive training and mentorship from an experienced geriatrician. Past scholars have addressed important issues like dementia recognition, advanced care planning, and social engagement for dementia risk reduction. 

The recruitment process for FY 2024 is complete, and we are excited to welcome 19 new GeriScholars into the program. The group recently completed its geriatric board review training. Next up, they will develop and implement their local quality improvement projects. 

Congratulations to all the GeriScholars for their outstanding contributions to elder health!

Mini-Cog© Training Videos for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

The IHS Alzheimer's Program has created a series of training videos to promote using the Mini-Cog© to help detect early signs of dementia. The Mini-Cog© is an evidence-based quick screening tool that can be completed in three minutes.

Dr. Chance Bodini, Dental Director of the Indian Health Council, INC., screens a patient for cognitive impairments.

In two new videos, a medical and dental provider from the Indian Health Council, Inc. (IHC) in California demonstrates how they conduct the Mini-Cog©. Special thanks to IHC, an IHS Models of Care grantee, for allowing us to film the videos onsite.

The screening requires no specialized medical knowledge to learn. It can help healthcare and community health staff identify possible cognitive impairment in older patients. 

• Visit the Alzheimer's Program website to view the first two videos, information about the Mini-Cog©, or other resources. 
• Read the recent IHS Blog for more information about IHS training and resources for early dementia detection. 

Keep an eye out for the final two videos later this fall.

18th Annual Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia in Native Americans​​​​​​

October 24, 2024
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Vee Quiva Resort & Casino at Laveen, AZ

Join the 18th annual conference for a morning
of growing your understanding of the 'why' of
Alzheimer's, including cultural perspectives and
brain health strategies. 

Spend the afternoon learning the 'how' to best support families living with dementia now.

For more information on how to attend the conference, visit the IHS Alzheimer's calendar of events. 
 

Dementia and Alzheimer's Resources​​​​​​

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) provides resources on Alzheimer's and dementia for its member tribes. View Dementia: In Our Own Voices, a GLITC video in which Tribal elders share their thoughts, feelings, and advice related to dementia.