Special Symposia: Hiding in Plain Sight: Dementia as a Healthcare Inequity
Course Description
This is a recorded session from the SGIM 2024 Annual Meeting in Boston.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of dementia remains a problem among all populations but is unfortunately more common among older adults who are a part of non-white racial and ethnic groups. The prevalence of dementia is higher among Blacks, Hispanic, and indigenous older adults compared to White older adults. Challenges with diagnosing dementia in non-White older populations will become increasingly apparent as the aging US population becomes more culturally and racially diverse.
Providers need appropriate, practical tools that identify dementia in culturally and racially diverse groups of older adults to appropriately diagnose and subsequently treat dementia. Additionally, if the diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment is made, providers will need to navigate through different cultural and ethnic perspectives of dementia. Providers would benefit from approaching communication about this life-altering diagnosis with cultural humility.
This symposium addresses the gaps of dementia screening, communicating a dementia diagnosis, and advocating for access to treatment in a diverse older adult population. Presenters introduce data related to disparities in dementia diagnoses in different cultural groups and present opportunities for tools, communication skills, and methods for advocating for equitable access to treatment that can be utilized by providers caring for diverse populations of patients with dementia.
Learning Objectives
- Outline the need for primary care physicians to screen for cognitive impairment.
- Describe dementia screening tools that are applicable for older patients from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Demonstrate ethnic and culturally sensitive ways to discuss dementia work up and diagnosis with patients and their families.
- Outline new opportunities and accompanying challenges for treatment for patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds.
CME/MOC Hours & Expiration Date
1.00 Hour CME MOC
Expiration: June 15, 2027
To receive CME credit only, you must (1) watch the entire presentation, then (2) click the Certificate item to claim your certificate (print/save for your records).
To receive CME and MOC credit, you must (1) watch the entire presentation, (2) complete the brief MOC Assessment survey, and then (3) click the Certificate item to claim your certificate (print/save for your records).
Presenters
- Hollis Day, MD, MS, MHPE
Boston Medical Center - Michi Yukawa, MD, MPH
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine - Malvika Varma, MD
Harvard Medical School
