Engaging diverse perspectives is critical to achieving health equity — meaning that all communities have a fair and just opportunity for early diagnosis and access to risk reduction and quality care. The Association furthered its commitment to engaging underrepresented and underserved communities and responding with resources to address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer's and all other dementia on these communities.
The Association developed and strengthened partnerships with trusted national and local organizations to create a pathway to greater health equity, mission engagement and inclusion. The Association and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced a partnership to provide dementia information and resources to LGBTQ communities. Working with over 3 million HRC members across the country, the partnership will seek to maximize support for LGBTQ individuals and their families impacted by Alzheimer's and all other dementia.
Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Association hosted the Promoting Diverse Perspectives: Addressing Health Disparities Related to Alzheimer's and All Dementias conference. In its second year, the two-day hybrid research conference brought together over 1,200 attendees from 59 countries to examine disparities in dementia prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The Association teamed up with Garrett Davis, CEO and founder of GDavis Productions and Films, on "Unforgettable," a new stage play that focuses on a family navigating Alzheimer's disease and caregiving. The play, which features Black and Latino cast members, aims to move and entertain audiences while highlighting Alzheimer's resources and education, and emphasizes the importance of underrepresented populations participating in clinical trials.
The Association continued to align with health care professionals, launching partnerships with Black Nurses Rock, the largest minority nursing association in the country; Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., an international service organization for registered nurses and student nurses representing many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds; and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), which represents over 200,000 members from the United States, Eastern Caribbean and Africa. These partnerships will focus on increasing concern and awareness among underserved populations, improving community engagement in Alzheimer's and dementia research, and connecting chapters and affiliates for grassroots collaboration.
The Association established a partnership with the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) focused on reaching men, particularly those in underserved communities, to raise concern and awareness of Alzheimer's and all other dementia and provide care and support for people impacted. The Association piloted an education program with AAMN to reach male caregivers and sponsored the AAMN Conference, rolling out the caregiver education program across AAMN chapters.
Hundreds of nurses, nurse practitioners and medical professionals attended the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) conference in Miami, where the Association collaborated with the NAHN to recruit Hispanic Americans to participate in Alzheimer's and dementia clinical trials. Increasing diversity will help ensure that new diagnostics and treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's are safe and effective for everyone.
The Association and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) announced a three-year partnership aimed at providing outreach and education to NCNW's 54 campus and community-based sections. The collaboration will work to reach African American women and families who are affected by the disease.
The Association joined forces with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., to provide Alzheimer's information and resources to Black communities. Working with over 750 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity undergraduate and graduate chapters across the country, the partnership will provide will provide Alzheimer's and dementia outreach and education.
To address long-standing health disparities and provide support for American Indians and Alaska Natives living with dementia, the Association announced new partnerships with the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Indian Health Service (IHS). Work with these organizations, which serve the 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states, will help extend the Association's ability to support people within these communities.
During National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Association engaged in online and media outreach to raise awareness of the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer's on Hispanic communities. The efforts also highlighted inspiring stories, conversations and contributions from Hispanic individuals advancing the cause.
The Association and the NFL Alumni Association (NFLA) joined forces to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and deliver care and support resources to individuals impacted by dementia. The partnership will offer dementia-related education and critical resources nationwide to more than 9,000 members of the NFLA and the public, with a focus on clinical trial opportunities in the Black community — a population underrepresented in clinical research.
Association resources were added to the National Hispanic Medical Association's new website, HispanicHealth.Info. The website features dementia resources in English and Spanish for health care professionals and their patients, details on clinical trials, and other information for caregivers and people living with Alzheimer's or another dementia.
The Association increased its reach to underserved populations through webinars and resources on partner sites, sharing information on Alzheimer's research, care, support, advocacy and the importance of clinical trials. These efforts included webinars presented in collaboration with SAGE USA, the NFL Alumni Association, Black Nurses Rock, the Association of Black Women Physicians, Tzu Chi USA and the Mexican Consulate's Ventanilla de Salud program.
Building on its partnership launched in October 2019, the Association and the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) hosted the 2nd Annual Connectional Purple Sunday. Over 1,000 people attended the event, which educated AME congregation members about Alzheimer's and all other dementia. The partnership aims to strengthen outreach to the African American community and provide opportunities for all those affected to access care and support services, engage in research and advance advocacy.
For the second year, the Association partnered with the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA). They collaborated on Strengthening Community-Based Services for Asian American and Pacific Islanders Affected by Dementia, a guide to long-term services and support that was distributed throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
The Association continued its longtime relationship with the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA). Together, they hosted a series of virtual town hall meetings on caregiving aimed at promotores de salud and the dementia caregivers they engage. The town halls, conducted in English and Spanish, reached more than 1,000 people. The Association also develops themes for NHCOA's monthly “coffee hour conversations” and provides speakers to discuss Alzheimer's awareness and offer care tips and resources for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
The Association joined forces with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and all other dementia. The partnership also aims to create opportunities for Zeta Phi Beta chapter members to become Association volunteers; introduce Zeta Phi Beta volunteers to the Association's signature fundraising events, Walk to End Alzheimer's and The Longest Day®; and promote participation in the Association's Leaders Summit.
Building on its existing collaboration, the Association and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) extended its partnership through 2025 to engage students, faculty and university leaders from TMCF's 47 member schools. This collaborative effort aims to develop Alzheimer's advocates and champions in the Black community.
The Association continued its partnership with the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA). With more than 10,000 members in 26 chapters nationwide, the NCBA teamed up with the Association to sponsor several webinars on resources to support caregivers and those living with Alzheimer's.