Resources

Webinar Description:

This session will showcase an intervention that operationalized EMS providers to identify those who need dementia related assistance to facilitate early dementia diagnosis, abate or reduce worsening symptoms, and facilitate earlier treatment. These actions support the CDC and Alzheimers Association Healthy Brain Initiative: Educate and Empower the Nation. Short-term outcomes show health literate and culturally competent education and support of first responders and dementia caregivers yields referrals and better delivery of timely dementia interventions. Long-term yields better caregiver access, ability to understand, and application of information provided to improve quality of life for both caregiver and patient.

Objectives:

• Understand the role of health literacy in achieving the goal of the CDC and Alzheimers Association Healthy Brain Initiative to Educate and Empower the Nation.
• Examine a novel training empowering first responders and in turn, older adult caregivers with adequate dementia literacy to screen and refer to appropriate services.
• Collaborate with EMS to integrate health literacy and dementia literacy principles in local and state EMS services to improve older adult EMS service outcomes.

Speakers:

Teresa Wagner, DrPH, MS, CPH, RD/LD, CPPS, CHWI, DipACLM, CHWC
Assistant Professor/Clinical Executive
UNT Health Science Center/SaferCare Texas

Dr. Wagner holds a doctorate in public health. Dr. Wagner has delivered multiple programs, speaking engagements and trainings on health literacy issues. Her research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health literacy to improve population health. Additionally, she established both a multi-stakeholder health literacy collaborative with the DFW Hospital Council Foundation focusing on organizational health literacy and Health Literacy Texas, a statewide nonprofit to build community around health literacy efforts in Texas.

Laura McEntire, LCSW, ACSW
Health Systems Director- Region 7 Texas

Laura McEntire is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20+ years’ experience working in health systems and nonprofit organizations.  Currently, she is the Regional Director of Health Systems for the Alzheimer’s Association. She consults with systems to drive risk reduction, increase timely detection and enhance quality of care for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Recently, she partnered on a quality improvement initiative, “Improving EMS Dementia Literacy”, which was published in the March 2022 edition of EMS World. She has been a guest speaker on the Plaid for Women Caregiver podcast; presenter for the Dementia Therapies and Interventions:  Healthcare Professional Training Video series and a featured speaker at various conferences. Prior to working for the Alzheimer’s Association, Laura engaged in various leadership roles in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings.