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About

Dementia Care Aware, originally launched by the California Department of Health Care Services through Senate Bill SB 48 in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, has expanded into a nationwide initiative. Building on its success in California and collaboration with multiple UCs and dementia-focused organizations, Dementia Care Aware now supports primary care providers across the country. The program offers education, tools, and support to improve dementia detection and care, with a continued focus on serving underserved and low-income populations.

“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."
Alzheimers Association Logo
Elizbabeth EdgerlyPh.D. Executive Director Alzheimer's Association Northern California
"[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!”
Doctor Meeting with a Senior Patient
Warmline Caller
The Dementia care aware training was a phenomenal experience which allowed a collaborative approach towards sharing knowledge and expertise between physicians and dementia specialists from various organizations. This unique approach helped improve the complex practices and struggles involved in caring for patients dealing with dementia in various settings, including outpatient inpatient and in various facilities including nursing homes.
Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, MD,
Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, MD, FAAFPProgram Director

Our Team

FAQ

Dementia will soon affect 1 in 5 older Californians. Dementia impacts a person’s ability to self-manage their day-to-day activities and other medical conditions.

Detecting dementia early:

  • Allows you to connect the person and their caregivers to resources early
  • Improves quality of life for affected persons and their caregivers
  • Reduces unnecessary costs of care
  • Allows you to jumpstart a brain health plan,  which is crucial to slowing progression. 

Check out our General Information Flyer to learn more.

1) What Is the Cognitive Health Assessment?

The cognitive health assessment is a quick tool that can be completed by any members of a primary care team and then reviewed by a treating provider. It is easy to score, uses tools that are validated in primary care, and can be done in multiple languages.

The cognitive health assessment approach has three steps:

  1. Take a brief patient history, for example, through a question such as “Have you noticed any changes in your memory or thinking abilities this last year?”
  2. Use screening tools. Use validated tools to assess cognition AND function, which can be given to the patient OR a care partner.
  3. Document care partner information. Do a brief assessment of the patient’s support system.

The table below outlines the recommended tools that can be used with the patient or an informant to satisfy the requirements of the cognitive health assessment:

These videos illustrate the cognitive health assessment in action.

2) What Is the Training?

Dementia Care Aware provides a self-paced online course that can be done over time or a monthly live virtual training on the cognitive health assessment (CHA) . Each offers CE/CME credits.

  • Billing providers in California are eligible to bill for the assessment using CPT code 1494F for patients aged 65 and older with Medi-Cal only coverage.
  • For more information, download our Cognitive Health Assessment Training Flyer

Any member of the care team can conduct the cognitive health assessment, but a billing provider must do the final review and documentation. 

An example of a potential team model might be:

  • At check-in, the patient receives a survey that includes a question about memory symptoms.
  • The Medical Assistant assesses function by assessing activities of daily living (ADL) and/or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) by asking the patient the questions on the functional abilities’ checklist.
  • The Nurse conducts a Mini-Cog with the patient.
  • The Social Worker assesses the patient’s support system and documents it.
  • The primary care provider, a Physician or Advanced Practice Provider, reviews and interprets the results, discusses the results and next steps with the patient, and documents the cognitive health assessment components.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit includes a requirement for a cognitive impairment initial screening and allows flexibility on the tools providers can use for this screening. The Dementia Care Aware cognitive health assessment may be used as a resource for this screening.

We help providers, health care teams and practices implement the cognitive health assessment in practice with program offerings that fit your bandwidth:

  • Implementation toolkit: A guide to support primary care teams in implementing routine cognitive screening for adults 65+. It includes practical examples and insights to support quality improvement and change management.
  • Centralized warmline support: 1-800-933-1789 for clinical management or consult questions Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dementia Care Resources: The Dementia Care Aware resource library contains resources and information to support dementia screening, assessment, care planning, and brain health.
  • Webinars and podcasts: Presentations on a variety of topics to assist with dementia care from screening to care planning and implementing dementia care in practice. FREE CE/CME.
  • Online Courses: Reinforce your learning with additional self-paced training! Receive FREE 0.5 CE/CME credit for each completed lesson.

Download our Program Offerings flyer to learn more.

Complete an evaluation survey at the end of the modules to receive a continuing education certificate. Please email us at dca@ucsf.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

About

Dementia Care Aware, originally launched by the California Department of Health Care Services through Senate Bill SB 48 in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, has expanded into a nationwide initiative. Building on its success in California and collaboration with multiple UCs and dementia-focused organizations, Dementia Care Aware now supports primary care providers across the country. The program offers education, tools, and support to improve dementia detection and care, with a continued focus on serving underserved and low-income populations.

“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."
Alzheimers Association Logo
Elizbabeth EdgerlyPh.D. Executive Director Alzheimer's Association Northern California
"[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!”
Doctor Meeting with a Senior Patient
Warmline Caller
The Dementia care aware training was a phenomenal experience which allowed a collaborative approach towards sharing knowledge and expertise between physicians and dementia specialists from various organizations. This unique approach helped improve the complex practices and struggles involved in caring for patients dealing with dementia in various settings, including outpatient inpatient and in various facilities including nursing homes.
Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, MD,
Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, MD, FAAFPProgram Director

Our Team

FAQ

Dementia will soon affect 1 in 5 older Californians. Dementia impacts a person’s ability to self-manage their day-to-day activities and other medical conditions.

Detecting dementia early:

  • Allows you to connect the person and their caregivers to resources early
  • Improves quality of life for affected persons and their caregivers
  • Reduces unnecessary costs of care
  • Allows you to jumpstart a brain health plan,  which is crucial to slowing progression. 

Check out our General Information Flyer to learn more.

1) What Is the Cognitive Health Assessment?

The cognitive health assessment is a quick tool that can be completed by any members of a primary care team and then reviewed by a treating provider. It is easy to score, uses tools that are validated in primary care, and can be done in multiple languages.

The cognitive health assessment approach has three steps:

  1. Take a brief patient history, for example, through a question such as “Have you noticed any changes in your memory or thinking abilities this last year?”
  2. Use screening tools. Use validated tools to assess cognition AND function, which can be given to the patient OR a care partner.
  3. Document care partner information. Do a brief assessment of the patient’s support system.

The table below outlines the recommended tools that can be used with the patient or an informant to satisfy the requirements of the cognitive health assessment:

These videos illustrate the cognitive health assessment in action.

2) What Is the Training?

Dementia Care Aware provides a self-paced online course that can be done over time or a monthly live virtual training on the cognitive health assessment (CHA) . Each offers CE/CME credits.

  • Billing providers in California are eligible to bill for the assessment using CPT code 1494F for patients aged 65 and older with Medi-Cal only coverage.
  • For more information, download our Cognitive Health Assessment Training Flyer

Any member of the care team can conduct the cognitive health assessment, but a billing provider must do the final review and documentation. 

An example of a potential team model might be:

  • At check-in, the patient receives a survey that includes a question about memory symptoms.
  • The Medical Assistant assesses function by assessing activities of daily living (ADL) and/or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) by asking the patient the questions on the functional abilities’ checklist.
  • The Nurse conducts a Mini-Cog with the patient.
  • The Social Worker assesses the patient’s support system and documents it.
  • The primary care provider, a Physician or Advanced Practice Provider, reviews and interprets the results, discusses the results and next steps with the patient, and documents the cognitive health assessment components.

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit includes a requirement for a cognitive impairment initial screening and allows flexibility on the tools providers can use for this screening. The Dementia Care Aware cognitive health assessment may be used as a resource for this screening.

We help providers, health care teams and practices implement the cognitive health assessment in practice with program offerings that fit your bandwidth:

  • Implementation toolkit: A guide to support primary care teams in implementing routine cognitive screening for adults 65+. It includes practical examples and insights to support quality improvement and change management.
  • Centralized warmline support: 1-800-933-1789 for clinical management or consult questions Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dementia Care Resources: The Dementia Care Aware resource library contains resources and information to support dementia screening, assessment, care planning, and brain health.
  • Webinars and podcasts: Presentations on a variety of topics to assist with dementia care from screening to care planning and implementing dementia care in practice. FREE CE/CME.
  • Online Courses: Reinforce your learning with additional self-paced training! Receive FREE 0.5 CE/CME credit for each completed lesson.

Download our Program Offerings flyer to learn more.

Complete an evaluation survey at the end of the modules to receive a continuing education certificate. Please email us at dca@ucsf.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

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