Northern Valley Indian Health Advances Dementia Care with Early Detection and Community Engagement
Northern Valley Indian Health (NVIH) is advancing dementia care for American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Northern California. By introducing the Mini-CogŠ, a quick and easy tool for detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, NVIH helps more people benefit from early detection and get the support they need to manage memory problems.
The three-minute screening tool can be used in medical, dental, and community settings, making it a practical option for many providers. With funding from the Indian Health Service Alzheimer’s Program grants, NVIH expanded the use of the Mini-CogŠ across its programs by growing its team and prioritizing education on early dementia screening.
To encourage more Mini-CogŠ screenings, NVIH launched a friendly competition among staff, boosting confidence and enthusiasm.
“I think the competition helped our team get comfortable with the Mini-CogŠ process,” said NVIH Community Health RN Coordinator Tonya Tyler. “Now, screenings are done regularly.”
Building on these efforts, NVIH also:
- Develops personalized care plans for patients and their families.
- Offers training and education on dementia care to caregivers.
- Hosts interactive presentations on the importance of early screening.
- Provides culturally relevant patient education materials.
| The educational events engage community members in fun, interactive ways while fostering collaboration with local partners. For example, NVIH meets quarterly with the Butte County Public Health Healthy Brain Initiative to address dementia-related issues. These gatherings build trust and create meaningful connections among healthcare providers, staff, patients, and caregivers. |
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NVIH’s dedication to early detection and community-centered care empowers families and shapes a brighter, healthier future for the communities it serves. For more information on Northern Valley Indian Health, visit www.nvih.org/services.
The Alzheimer's Program website has IHS training videos that show how quick and easy it is to use the Mini-CogŠ.
