About – Dementia Care Aware

Dementia Care Aware is a state-wide program in California for primary care providers. It provides the information and tools needed to successfully administer cognitive health assessments and determine the appropriate next steps for the patients.

A critical step in meeting the needs of the growing aging population is early recognition of cognitive decline. By 2040, the number of Californians aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to more than double. Californians who live to be 65 or older have a one in five chance of developing any type of dementia. Early detection means we can act sooner to slow progression of dementia and improve quality of life for the person living with the condition and for their care partners.

Dementia Care Aware is a training and support program led by the California Department of Health Care Services and the University of California, San Francisco that empowers primary care teams to meet this need and assess and address dementia early.

The Cognitive Health Assessment, which is a 5 to 10-minute screening approach, can fit into several types of visits – including routine visits, Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWV), and during Health Risk Assessments – and can satisfy the required AWV cognitive impairment screening. The cognitive health assessment training is offered as an online course and as monthly virtual training webinars. Once trained, providers can also receive $29 per each annual screen for those Medi-Cal patients who are fee-for-service and do not have Medicare.

Dementia Care Aware provides even more training, for example on the next steps in evaluation after a positive screen, care planning with patients, connecting patients and care partners to community resources, and tools for successfully implementing dementia detection and care in clinical practice.

Dementia Care Aware is here to help primary care providers and their teams make dementia screening do-able and care planning proactive so we can intervene early and improve what it means to live with dementia. We can answer any questions health care professionals may have at 1-800-933-1789 or by submitting an online request for information on our website.

“Achieving a timely diagnosis is absolutely essential to ensure that everyone living with dementia can access the right care and support at the right time. Dementia Care Aware makes that possible by bringing together dementia experts across CA to support primary care doctors and community clinics with tools designed specifically for them and their patients. Together we can bring dementia out of the shadows and into the light so no one faces dementia alone."

"[The Dementia Care Aware Warmline] is exactly what I needed and the wording on how I can discuss this delicate issue with patients that don't know me. I feel much better equipped. Thank you so much!”

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Additional Resources

ADL/IADL Checklist

The ADL/IADL Checklist can be used as the functional screening portion of the Dementia Care Aware cognitive health assessment and can be printed or downloaded.

Dementia Care Aware Conducting the Cognitive Health Assessment

This flyer provides information on frequently asked questions about the Dementia Care Aware program and the cognitive health assessment.

Dementia Care Aware FAQ

This document contains step-by-step guidance and instructions for conducting the Dementia Care Aware cognitive health assessment.

Dementia Care Aware Cobranding Guidelines

This document contains the Dementia Care Aware co-branding guidelines and instructions for partner sites to use when promoting their offerings in partnership with Dementia Care Aware.

Dementia Care Aware Cognitive Health Assessment Training Informational Flyer

This flyer provides information on the different training modalities of the Dementia Care Aware cognitive health assessment training and how to access those trainings.

Dementia Care Aware Education and Training Information Flyer

This flyer describes the various Dementia Care Aware education and training opportunities that the program offers, including the cognitive heath assessment, webinars, and podcasts.

Dementia Care Aware Medical-Legal Partnership Network Flye

This flyer describes the Dementia Care Aware Medical-Legal Partnership Network, their services and how to access them.

Overview of Dementia Care Aware Program Offerings

This flyer provides detailed information about Dementia Care Aware program offerings including a variety of education and training opportunities and practice support for cognitive health assessment implementation.

Dementia Care Aware Program General Information Flyer

This flyer provides general information about the Dementia Care Aware program.

Dementia Care Aware Program Toolkit

This document contains comprehensive detailed information about Dementia Care Aware and includes instructions for the cognitive health assessment, flyers, frequently asked questions about billing and cognitive screening, as well as printable assessment tools.

Dementia Care Aware Warmline Flyer

This flyer provides information about the Dementia Care Aware Warmline; a clinical consultation line for primary care team to support best practices in dementia care from screening to care planning and health systems implementation.

Interactive Case Conference (ECHO) Information Flyer

This flyer describes the ECHO-like interactive case conferences provided through Dementia Care Aware, who provides them and how to access them.

Practice Support Consultation Information Flyer

This flyer describes practice support services available through Dementia Care Aware, who provides them and how to access them.

Next Steps After a Positive Cognitive Health Assessment

This resource outlines the steps that should follow a positive CHA to further assess cognition, function, and the persons care partner to support the diagnostic process

Tips for Adapting the Cognitive Health Assessment

This resource describes strategies and tips to adapt the CHA for diverse patient populations. The CHA is a flexible process, not a rigid protocol.

Telehealth and the Cognitive Health Assessment

The CHA is validated in telehealth settings. This resource describes how to adapt the CHA for telehealth use.

The Cognitive Health Assessments for Team Members

Different people may do different parts of the CHA in whatever way works best for a particular site. This resource outlines ways to use the CHA in a multidisciplinary team based setting.

Have questions about dementia care? Call our warmline for clinicians today at 1-800-933-1789!