News and Announcements
NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL NATIVE FAMILY CAREGIVER MONTH
Join IHS in recognizing all the amazing Native family caregivers this November. You are a caregiver if you are caring for someone who needs help because of a health problem or disability. You are not alone. One in three American Indian and Alaska Native adults is a caregiver. Culture is the great connector between caregivers and their loved ones. Caring for family is a deeply held value across many cultures.
- Check out 8 tips for helping dementia caregivers
- To learn more or find local contact information for your Tribal elder program to see if there is meal and caregiving help available, visit ACL's OLDER INDIANS website.
- To learn more about how to take care of yourself, visit the CDC's Aging webpages.
- To learn more about caregiving plans, visit the CDC's caregivers page.
Now Recruiting: New IHS Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Cohort
The IHS Division of Nursing Services, in partnership with the Alzheimer's Grant Program, will offer technical assistance, access to existing training resources, and reimbursement of accreditation fees for IHS, tribal, and urban emergency departments interested in seeking geriatric ED accreditation. The purpose is to assist sites in applying by the February 2024 application due date. The new cohort will join the nine IHS and tribal EDs that have already achieved the Level 3 – Bronze accreditation offered by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Why participate? The number of Native older adults ages 65 and older is expected to triple in the next 30 years, with those 85 years and older growing even quicker. As age increases, so does the number of ED visits. Geriatric accredited EDs reduce the chance of avoidable patient admissions and re-visits while improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. To learn more about GEDA or how to participate in the next cohort, email Ardith Aspaas at or visit our GEDA page.
Indian Health Service Team: IHS Awards $1.5 Million to Address Alzheimer's Disease on World Alzheimer's Day
On World Alzheimer's Day, September 21, the IHS reaffirmed its commitment to building tribal and urban Indian health system capacity to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by announcing $1.5 million in eight new cooperative agreements. The IHS Alzheimer’s Grant Program aims to develop and enhance models that incorporate comprehensive approaches to care and service for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Total funding for both years of the new 2-year grants is estimated at $3 million.
Alzheimer Grant Program Site Visits
In July and September 2023, the IHS Elder Health Team conducted site visits with the four Dementia Models of Care grantee programs. Read more about the focus and value of these visits.
More News
May 2023: Older Americans Month
The May 2023 #OlderAmericansMonth theme was "Aging Unbound," exploring a wide range of aging experiences and promoting the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment as we age. Read the White House Proclamation on Older Americans Month, 2023 . IHS posted graphics and messages, including submissions from tribal elders, friends and families across IHS social media channels throughout the month. To learn more about 2023 Older Americans Month, visit the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Administration on Aging.
HHS Addressing Disparities and Risk Reduction for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease: 2022 Update . Through the Plan, HHS and its federal partners are working to improve research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), increase support for people living with dementia and their caregivers, and encourage action to reduce risk factors.
Alzheimer's Association: Navajo Tribal Member Coordinates Alzheimer's Training Through IHS
The Alzheimer's Association has posted a blog post on Valerie Jones, elder health care data coordinator with IHS and a member of the Navajo Nation. The post shares how the Association and the IHS are working together to address and improve the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives living with Alzheimer's disease and all other dementias, and their caregivers.
Models of Care funding Grantees Announced
Grantees for the Addressing Alzheimer’s in Indian Country: Models of Care funding have been announced.