“It is estimated that one in three American Indian and Alaska Native older adults 65 and older may receive a dementia diagnosis over the next 25 years”

(Mayeda, Glymour, Quensenberry, & Whitmer, 2016)

We recognize that this area of healthcare has a limited workforce capacity within our tribes, and that we may face many challenges ahead and with this gathering and collaboration of tribal leaders, health programs, clinical providers and ADRD experts together we addressed Brain Health and Dementia in our tribal communities. The Summit provided presentations that included information, education, and awareness to address brain health and memory/cognitive decline and ADRD. Presentations included: The Alzheimer’s Association, The Healthy Brain Initiatives, Road Map for Indian Country, International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2), Dementia Friendly AI/AN Communities, Framing, Recognizing, and Responding to Elder Abuse in Indian Country, and additional presentations related to music, memory, and Tribal community ADRD programs. In addition, many of our attendees received their certification of Completion of the Dementia Friendly AI/AN Communities information webinar provided by the IA2 team – working towards becoming a Dementia Friend Champion.  Lastly, The Banner Alzheimers Institute’s Native American Outreach Program provided a half-day Caregiver Support Training, going through their Caregiver Support Toolkit. 

We ended both Summit days with daily reflections, and listening sessions where we discussed among our relatives’ questions to stimulate conversations not limited to how each tribal community is addressing ADRD and supporting Caregivers – we shared stories, and we celebrated life together with laughter, tears, songs, dances and prayers. We shared about our tribal traditions, and the importance of implementing them into tribal programs – and how many of our tribal programs have been weaving traditional ways into their daily delivery of care. Mostly importantly, we made new relationships and strengthen old ones, and observed in our presence who our Dementia Champions are that we made formation that we are the Northwest Tribal Dementia Network, and that we want to foster our relationships and support one another as we walk this journey to bring awareness and education to our member tribes, one-step at a time, together. We are not alone!