The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care ECHO Program connects dementia care experts with professional care providers in a free continuing education series of interactive, case-based video conferencing sessions. The program enables professional care providers in long-term care settings to better understand Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and emphasizes high-quality, person-centered care in community-based settings.
The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to ensuring that people with Alzheimer’s dementia receive high-quality care and support in long-term care and community-based settings. To meet this commitment, the Alzheimer's Association offers assisted living community staff the opportunity to participate in the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ECHO Program.
How it works
Leaders in long-term care settings (e.g. assisted living, nursing homes, memory care) who want to increase their ability to care for patients with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia sign up for a free six-week telementoring program with expert multidisciplinary specialist teams.
Each weekly call includes instruction on a particular aspect of dementia and Alzheimer's care, followed by case discussion. This design helps participants to learn from one another as well as the subject matter experts.
During the discussion, participants share a de-identified case related to the day's topic and get advice from experts and peers on issues such as family and patient education and communication, case management and working with the patient's care partners.
Through participating in this free Alzheimer's care education program, long-term care providers gain knowledge, confidence and access to specialty consultation so that they can deliver excellent dementia care to people living with Alzheimer's in their own communities.
Benefits of participation include:
- Case-based learning so that all participants teach and learn.
- Brief educational presentations from experts in the field.
- Video conferencing for ease of access and to foster interactive learning.
- Open access to resources used during the series.
- Certificate of completion.
- Opportunity to share with and learn from peers from across the country.
- Increased confidence and knowledge to provide quality dementia care.
- No travel or cost to participate.
Project ECHO aims to improve health outcomes through a team-based approach while reducing geographic barriers and the cost of care. This series from the Alzheimer’s Association is one of the first in the country focused on improving access to quality dementia care in the long-term setting.
Alzheimer's and dementia care topics included
At the completion of the series, participants will have increased knowledge and understanding of person-centered quality dementia care in the following areas:
- Overview of Alzheimer's and dementia.
- Person-centered care.
- Assessment and care planning.
- Activities of daily living.
- Dementia-related behaviors.
- Importance of quality improvement and evaluation.
Who can participate
Participants must be long-term care providers for people living with Alzheimer's in long-term care settings. We encourage the entire care team to participate. The care team may include but is not limited to:
- Nursing home administrator.
- Certified nursing assistant (CNA).
- Registered nurse (RN).
- Licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse (LPN/LVN).
- Director of nursing (DON).
- Social worker.
- Executive director.
- Activity volunteer coordinator/director.
- Reminiscence coordinator/director.
- Assisted living coordinator/director.
- Resident care coordinator/director.
- Life enrichment manager.
- Facility provider.
- Dementia program director.
- Dining services manager/director.
International participants, as long as they are long-term care providers, are welcome.
About Project ECHO hubs
Project ECHO uses a hub and spoke model to disseminate knowledge and build capacity around the globe. Expert specialist teams are typically from regional organizations, academic medical centers or other health systems that serve as the hub in replicating the ECHO model, with community practices joining as the spokes. There is no fee to become an ECHO hub but you must become an official partner with the ECHO Institute.
The Alzheimer's Association is committed to increasing the use of Project ECHO for dementia care and in formalizing a global network of ECHO hubs addressing Alzheimer's disease and all other dementia. We partner with the research community, medical professionals, key stakeholders in the dementia care industry, and policy leaders and advocates to:
- Increase evidence around the use of ECHO in the promotion of best practice in Alzheimer's and other dementia care.
- Accelerate the uptake of evidence into practice.
- Influence funders and policy makers to support ECHO programs for care providers treating people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
The Alzheimer's Association is here to support you in the development of your ECHO hub. Our ECHO team can partner with you as a technical advisor and consultant on:
- Overall program design and planning.
- Curriculum development.
- Target audience and faculty selection.
- Budget and financial planning.
Questions and contact information
Connect with us to learn more.