Dementia care navigators help Coloradans get the support they need
People living with Alzheimer’s as well as their caregivers benefit from culturally informed care.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, Latino Americans have a 1.5 times higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to white Americans. In Colorado, nearly a quarter of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, meaning many individuals and families in these communities will be affected by dementia as they age.
Currently, about 11,000 of the 91,000 Coloradans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer's disease are Latino. Many face challenges in getting timely diagnoses, medical treatments, and care coordination. A significant portion of Latinos believe it's important for dementia care providers to understand their cultural backgrounds, as reported in a 2021 Alzheimer's Association study.
Despite this, another study found that dementia care often overlooks the unique perspectives and needs of Latinos, highlighting the importance of reducing stigma about cognitive decline, promoting brain health to lower dementia risk, and acknowledging the impacts of dementia on families and households.
As a geriatrician, palliative care physician, and researcher specializing in dementia care and caregiving, the author focuses on improving dementia care for diverse cultural backgrounds, including Latinos. The author also founded the University of Colorado Medicine GUIDE Program, which provides a trained dementia care navigator to individuals affected by dementia.
This program, launched in 2024 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, aims to address the overwhelming stress and concerns of people living with dementia and their caregivers. Currently, there are 292 GUIDE programs across the U.S., including four in Colorado. The Colorado programs serve areas such as Grand Junction, Durango, Pueblo, and Denver.
The GUIDE model connects eligible Medicare beneficiaries with dementia and their caregivers to a trained dementia care navigator at no additional cost. The navigator helps understand the individual's needs and challenges and provides tailored recommendations, including dementia education, care coordination, and community resources.
The GUIDE program also offers a comprehensive assessment and care plan from a dementia specialist, including a medication review. Eligible patients and caregivers may also receive respite care, such as in-home care, adult daycare, or facility-based care. In the first two years, the author's team enrolled 200 patients with dementia and their caregivers in the GUIDE program, tracking its effectiveness and caregiver strain levels.
The author emphasizes the importance of involving older people with dementia and their caregivers in finding services and support, with Colorado's dementia GUIDE model map helping families and caregivers locate GUIDE programs.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
