Banner Alzheimer's Institute Native American Outreach Program (BAI NA Outreach Program)

The BAI Native American Outreach Program was established to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among the 22 Arizona Native American tribal members and health care providers. The program's goals are to improve diagnosis and treatment and to assist caregivers with the daily challenges in caregiving. BAI NA Outreach Program is the 2009 recipient of The Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Award, Diverse/Multicultural Communities Category.

Organization:

Banner Alzheimer's Institute

The program first began in 2004 with outreach efforts to the tribes located around the greater Phoenix area. Since 2008, the program has expanded throughout the state of Arizona and been reaching out to three distinct audiences: family caregivers, professional caregivers, and medical providers.

Location:

Phoenix, AZ

How does it work?

Scheduled outreach activities to tribes and an annual conference now in its 6th year have resulted in reaching over 1,500 family and professional caregivers. An 8-DVD featuring three NA families sharing their unique caregiving story has been widely used and distributed along with a 55-page culturally appropriate book Navigating through Memory Loss.

Why is it successful?

Family caregivers have been significantly impacted by the program's outreach efforts and the annual conference. The evaluations and follow up with caregivers demonstrate that caregivers learn how to understand and manage challenging behaviors, how to utilize activities to enhance quality of life, and how to identify helpful resources (even on the reservation).

For more information: www.BannerHealth.com.