GeriScholar Accomplishments

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GeriScholars at Work

Many GeriScholars have shared the impact of their projects, which focus on improved care for aging patients. Here are some of their accomplishments.

Establishing Dementia Screening in Tribal Clinics

GeriScholar Dr. Raphael Francisco, from the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, developed a dementia screening process for his clinic. Before his project, there was no formal system for screening and tracking dementia diagnoses.

Key outcomes:

• Implemented a structured dementia screening process
• Established accurate documentation for clinical and statistical use
• Improved early detection and support for elders with memory and thinking concerns

Dr. Francisco's work ensures dementia screenings are a standard part of elder care, which will continue to benefit patients and families moving forward.

Building a Strong Elder Care Network

GeriScholar Dr. Mia Lozada, from Gallup Indian Medical Center, regularly consults with fellow scholars to improve local elder care and medication use and implement best practices.

Key outcomes:

• Strengthened professional networks for sharing elder care strategies
• Promoted in-depth elder assessments focused on brain function and lifestyle habits
• Encouraged culturally sensitive care, such as incorporating language preferences and family-centered approaches

Dr. Lozada's practices highlight the importance of peer collaboration in improving health outcomes for elders.

Expanding the Reach of Geriatric Training

The GeriScholars Program continues to gain national recognition for its impact on elder care. In 2022 and 2023, the program received the IHS Director’s Award, honoring its contributions to dementia care and geriatric training.

The awards were given for the program’s effectiveness in:

• Training primary care providers across multiple IHS Areas to improve elder health services.
• Increasing access to mentorship, clinical practicums, and peer coaching in geriatric care.
• Developing and implementing local elder care improvement projects that address community-specific needs.

These recognitions highlight the contributions of each GeriScholar in improving dementia care, early detection, and elder health services in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Locations of GeriScholars Across the U.S.

The IHS Alzheimer's Program's Indian Health GeriScholars Program is an interconnected nationwide effort, with IHS-operated, Tribal, or Urban grantee locations at three types of health centers across many of the areas IHS serves. This allows the program to accomplish the key goals of Celebrating Leadership in elder care, demonstrating reach and diversity, providing transparency, and making an impact.

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