Implementing the National Task Group-Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD)
Free half-day training that will aid staff at Hawaii agencies and organizations as well as family caregivers to assess, record and observe cognitive function over time in persons aging with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).
In-person event with remote Zoom uplink available. Parking instructions will be sent to registrants who plan to attend in person. Lunch and handouts will be provided.
After the training, attendees will be able to:
• Describe clinical manifestations, incidence/prevalence, and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in persons with Intellectual Disability (ID) with emphasis on Down syndrome
• Share an overview and rationale for use of the NTG-EDSD, an administrative screen designed to detect dementia-related changes in persons aging with ID
• Describe how Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of dementia (BPSD) manifest in persons with IDD
• Develop an approach to managing BPSD that includes behavioral & environmental interventions as primary, and psychotropic medications as secondary, in partnership with healthcare professionals
• Understand how to complete the NTG-EDSD tool with persons aging with ID and their caregivers or whoever knows them best
• Know when the tool can be administered and kept in the person’s records – how and why it can be shared with the person’s physician
• Describe the challenges encountered in accurately diagnosing dementia with individuals living with IDD, and the rationale for using the NTG-EDSD tool to track cognitive changes over time to share with and help physicians with person-centered assessment and treatment options
Trainer: Ritabelle Fernandes, MD, MPH is a Professor at the Dept. of Geriatric Medicine, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii. She is also Medical Director of Population Health at AlohaCare. She is a certified Regional Trainer for the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices. Dr. Fernandes championed memory clinics across the state to provide comprehensive, person-centered dementia care. She has served on the Doctors workgroup for the State Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia.
Learn more about the work and resources of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices.
To find out more about the NTG-EDSD for physicians, staff, advocates, and families, and translation of the tool into other languages: https://www.the-ntg.org/ntg-edsd
Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience – Geriatric Grand Rounds
Susan C. Price, MD, is the Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care at Hawai’i Pacific Health and the Medical Director of the Straub Benioff GUIDE Program. Dr. Price will be teaching the Department of Geriatric Medicine Grand Rounds on Monday, December 8, 2025 from 12:30-1:30pm (HST).
At the end of this session, physicians will be able to:
- Understand the GUIDE program background, goals and components.
- Describe GUIDE eligibility and referral process.
Intended Audiences: Physicians, nurses, and other allied health staff caring for geriatric patients.
Vision Loss and Dementia
One increasing but sometimes overlooked risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline is vision impairment. Untreated vision loss can accelerate brain aging, lower cognitive reserve, and contribute to social isolation, all of which raise the risk of dementia. This course explores the relationship between cognitive function and visual health, emphasizes the value of routine eye care, and offers methods for early detection, support, and intervention, especially for those 45 and older.
Learning Objectives
- List 6 or more modifiable risk factors for dementia
- Describe the relationship between vision impairment and increased dementia risk
- Evaluate interventions and support strategies for individuals with co-occurring vision loss and cognitive impairment
- Identify special considerations for high-risk populations
About the Speaker: Dr. Joshua Ehrlich is the Paul R. Lichter Research Professor of Ophthalmology and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and in the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He is also an Associate Director of University of Michigan’s Center for Global Health Equity. Dr. Ehrlich’s research focuses on the impact of vision loss on systemic health, well-being, and optimal aging. A second focus of his research is on population aging and determinants of later-life health and wellbeing. He is an invited member of the Lancet Commission on Global Eye Health and advises numerous national and international organizations on issues related to sensory health, aging, and policy. He has authored more than 150 scientific articles, and his research is funded by the National Eye Institute, the National Institute on Aging, and the Fogarty International Center at NIH, as well as Gates Ventures.
Transform end-of-life care with deep listening
Discover evidence-based counseling techniques that help social workers, chaplains, and care teams manage trauma, de-escalate crisis moments, and bring calm to high-stress hospice and palliative settings. Join Gary Gardia for a powerful 90-minute webinar merging mindfulness, compassion, and clinical skills to strengthen patient and family support.
AFTER THIS WEBINAR YOU’LL BE ABLE TO:
- Define counseling in end-of-life care
- Explain mindfulness and deep listening frameworks
- Identify two mindfulness techniques for de-escalation
- Recognize two high-risk situations requiring both interventions
- Describe two scenarios applying these techniques to traumatic stress
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