Educational Resources

This is a resource library of educational resources on dementia. There’s so much information out there and it’s hard to know what to trust. These resources have been reviewed by local subject matter experts and added to this searchable and filterable library for your convenience.

Much thanks to Dr. Kevin Kawamoto, the University of Hawai’i Center on Aging, and the Workforce Development workgroup members for putting together this Master Curriculum. The curriculum was designed with an “a la carte” model in mind, allowing educators and trainers to choose which items would be most suitable and appropriate for their particular audiences. Click here for the full document or scroll down to search for the topic you’d like to learn about.

Resource Library

Other Resources

Supporting Professionals: Community and Clinical Linkages for Dementia Care

  • Type: The Dementia Care Workforce, Early Detection
  • Prevention Level: Secondary
  • Material Type: Infographic
  • Source:

    Hawaiʻi Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative, University of Hawaiʻi Center on Aging, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, Hawaiʻi Dementia Initiative

The Rising Toll of Alzheimer’s Disease, Policy Paper (October 2020)

  • Type: Cost Burden to Society
  • Prevention Level: Tertiary
  • Material Type: Literature
  • Source:

    Senate RPC

Try Non-Drug Treatment First to Manage Dementia

  • Type: Psychosocial Interventions
  • Prevention Level: Tertiary
  • Material Type: Literature
  • Source:

    Stephanie Sophie Lee, ABC News

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Literature Review” (2014)

  • Type: Health Disparities
  • Prevention Level: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
  • Material Type: Literature
  • Source:

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning  and Evaluation

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Grants Approval for Alzheimer’s Drug

  • Type: Pharmacological Interventions
  • Prevention Level: Tertiary
  • Material Type: Literature
  • Source:

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Prevention Levels

The three points of prevention, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are:

Primary Prevention

Primary Prevention — or risk reduction — strives to intervene before health effects occur, through measures such as promoting healthy and safe behaviors (e.g., eating well, exercising regularly, not smoking), mandating safe and healthy practices (e.g., use of seatbelts and bike helmets), and limiting exposure to factors associated with a disease or health condition (e.g., asbestos, lead and mercury).

Secondary Prevention

Secondary Prevention — or early detection and diagnosis — aims to identify diseases in the earliest stages, before the onset of more severe symptoms (e.g., increasing awareness of symptoms, promoting early diagnosis and educating health care providers about the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention strategies).

Tertiary Prevention

Tertiary Prevention — or management of comorbidities — involves managing disease post diagnosis to minimize negative health and quality of life effects. Comorbidities occur when a person has more than one disease or condition at the same time.  Tertiary prevention is also important when thinking about caregivers, who are influential in managing care and reducing complications, sometimes at the expense of their own health.

“There are opportunities for public health intervention across the dementia life course. The public health community can intervene across the points of prevention — primary, secondary and tertiary — to impact the brain health of the population. The figure shows the potential impact of the different prevention points throughout the continuum of dementia.

Public health action is critical to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment, improve access to early detection and diagnosis and improve the safety and quality of care for people living with dementia… In early life and throughout the life course, primary prevention can make a difference in sustaining cognitive function across a population.” For those with Mild Cognitive Impairment, “secondary prevention in the form of early detection and diagnosis is paramount.” “Tertiary prevention strategies can connect the person living with dementia to treatment and support services to help preserve their independence and quality of life for as long as possible.”

– Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023-2027

Resources on Dementia for Children

Witnessing a loved one going through changes associated with dementia can be confusing, scary, and alienating for a child, especially when adults don’t effectively communicate what’s going on.

Dr. Kevin Kawamoto compiled a list of children’s book titles with descriptions provided on Amazon.com so that adults can review possible materials that would be suitable for helping to start a conversation with their keiki about dementia.

Learn More

Support Groups & Upcoming Events

Meeting Communities Where They Are: Innovative Approaches to Dementia Supports and Services

The National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center is hosting a webinar about Meeting Communities Where They Are: Innovative Approaches to Dementia Supports and Services. Community-based dementia programs serving African American and Korean American communities will share their experiences.

Learn More

Understanding and Responding to Dementia Behaviors a Caregiver Conference

Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi is offering this free full-day Caregiver Conference. It will be in-person at the Queen’s Conference Center and also available via Zoom. The local expert presenters will cover: […]

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Early Detection of Dementia: What to Do Now — National Resources to Plan, Partner, and Act

The BOLD Public Health Center of Excellence on Early Detection of Dementia is pleased to offer an upcoming webinar to discuss new resources that they have developed for our partners, […]

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