Journey Mapping: Seeing Dementia Care Through the Patient’s Eyes
At Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation in New Mexico, public health nurse and Indian Health Service (IHS) Geriatric Nurse Fellow Jinelle Goodwin is taking a fresh approach to dementia care. In partnership with Santo Domingo’s Community Health Representative (CHR) program, an IHS Alzheimer’s Program grant recipient, Jinelle uses “patient journey mapping” to improve dementia care and support.
Journey mapping is an evidence-based process that charts a patient’s experience through a health care system. The approach highlights challenges, strengths, and opportunities for improvement.
Journey maps can:
- Guide patients and families through the progression of disease.
- Help clinics identify roadblocks or gaps in services.
- Support patient-centered policy and program development.
Jinelle is developing a draft journey map to inform a larger CHR-led initiative, which will include feedback and culturally grounded solutions to improve the process of dementia diagnosis.
“My goal as a public health nurse is to bridge gaps in access to care, provide high-quality, culturally relevant patient education, and foster trust in health care through meaningful relationships with patients in their homes and in the clinic,” Jinelle said. “Journey mapping provides a structured path based on best practices to help achieve the best possible outcomes.”
Patient journey mapping can be adapted to many audiences depending on the goal:
- Health professionals and program planners can use maps to assess gaps in care, improve service delivery, and plan interventions
- Families and caregivers can use them to better understand disease progression, coordinate care, and prepare for the road ahead
- Communities can adapt them to reflect cultural values, helping ensure care stays connected to tradition and identity
Jinelle urges providers to imagine walking the difficult path that a patient might take in order to provide the very best individualized patient centered care. “When creating a patient journey map, don’t be afraid to start drafting the process including possible roadblocks and challenges. Get creative—there are no rules on how it should look.”
World Alzheimer’s Month in September
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, which is the perfect time to tell patients and caregivers how to get involved in their American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
The following are ways you can help raise awareness about dementia this September:
- Participate in or attend an organized event.
- Educate others about the symptoms and challenges of dementia.
- Volunteer at events or support those living with or caring for someone with dementia.
- Share stories and experiences on social media to raise awareness and offer support to others in similar situations.
Visit the Indian Health Service Alzheimer’s Program website for resources, information on programs, services, and grant opportunities.
August 28, 2025 - 10:00 AM Central 