People living with dementia have complex care needs, long periods of disability, and heavy reliance on the support of their family and other caregivers. Clinicians can improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers through implementation of evidence-based practices that provide meaningful help and support.

Use this toolkit to make the case for improving dementia care, implement quality improvement, and train clinicians from all disciplines to better support people living with dementia and their caregivers. For comprehensive clinical training, visit CAPC's online CE curriculum, Best Practices in Dementia Care and Caregiver Support.

What’s in the Toolkit

Improving the quality of dementia care can alleviate suffering for people living with dementia and their caregivers, improve key quality metrics, and reduce health care spending.

The Case for Improving Dementia Care

Brief monograph outlining key statistics and the case for improving dementia care and caregiver support. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2019.

The Case for Improving Dementia Care Infographic

Infographic with key statistics demonstrating the value of improving dementia care in the U.S.

Comprehensive guide with practical steps in implementing best practices in dementia care and caregiver support.

Improving Dementia Care: Getting Started

A comprehensive guide to improving identification, assessment, and support of people living with dementia, and their caregivers. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2019.

Dementia Care Toolkit for Primary Care Teams

A resource covering the scope of dementia care, from screening to finding community supports. Gerontological Society of America.

Online CE courses, clinical assessment tools, and resources for identifying and making referrals to community-based services that support patients and families.

Navigating the CAPC Online Curriculum: A Guide for Improving Dementia Care and Caregiver Support

Recommended CAPC courses and tools for all providers caring for people living with dementia.

Cognitive Assessment Tools

Recommended validated cognitive assessment tools.

Assessing Needs of People Living with Dementia

Recommended validated assessment tools for common comorbid conditions.

Caring for the Caregiver

Validated tools for assessing caregiver health and well-being.

Referral to Community Resources

Community-based resource locators and support services.

Dementia Care Resources for Caregivers

Print or email this handout of caregiver resources for education and support.

Dementia Care Resources in Our Community

Fill out this worksheet with contact information for community-based services in your area, and supply to clinical staff or patients and families.

Successfully Collaborating to Support People Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers

This on-demand webinar discusses successfully collaborating to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Bringing Comfort to People with Advanced Dementia

This on-demand webinar, Bringing Comfort to People with Advanced Dementia, discusses how we can eliminate distress in patients with advanced Dementia.

Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD)

Tool to assess pain in cognitively impaired patients.

Cognitive Impairment Care Planning

Guidance from the Alzheimer's Association on utilizing CPT code 99483.

Alzheimer's Association Toolkit on Care Planning

Cognitive Impairment care planning toolkit for clinicians

Case studies of evidence-based care models that support people living with dementia, their families, and other caregivers.

Eskenazi Health’s Aging Brain Care Program

An interdisciplinary collaborative care model for people living with dementia.

Hospice of the Valley’s Palliative Care for Dementia Program

A cost-effective model for home-based case management and caregiver support.

WellMed Charitable Foundation’s Caregiver SOS Program

A model for evidence-based caregiver support and education.

Baylor Scott & White Health’s Geriatrics Program for Dementia Care

A model for comprehensive care management in the home.

Baylor Scott & White Health’s Family Caregiver Program

An evidence-based caregiver intervention adapted for an integrated health care system.

How A Population-Based Approach Can Improve Dementia Care

Health Affairs Blog profile of UCLA Health's approach to dementia care. May 2019.

Tools to design and implement a training initiative for care teams from all specialties, to improve quality of life for patients and families living with serious illness. Includes 27 resources.
This toolkit provides online courses and resources for care managers to meet the needs of patients with serious illness. Includes 14 resources.
Improving operations and training clinical staff to identify, stratify, and meet the needs of patients living with serious illness at the population level. Includes 24 resources.

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