Research – American Indian and Alaska Native Elders Community Health Communications Preferences for Dementia

American Indian and Alaska Native Elders completed a survey to help determine how Elders get their health information and their preferences for receiving dementia related health information. Over 100 Elders from 15 states and 51 tribes responded to our survey distributed at the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) conference in 2021.

Questions in the survey included:

• Where does your household usually get health information?
  • Top 3 Answers:
    • Doctor’s Office
    • Online/ The Internet
    • Newspaper or Tribal Newsletter

• What are the best ways to provide information about dementia, Alzheimer’s, or brain health to elders and their families in your community?
  • Top 3 Answers:
    • Community Education through Senior Services
    • Flyers and Brochures
    • Doctor’s Office
• What would you like to see information resources?
  • Top 3 Answers:
    • Place or Person I can ask questions confidentially
    • Large Lettering, Easy to Read
    • People from my Community Share them
• What makes it hard to access available resources?
  • Top 3 Answers:
    • No formal diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s
    • Do not apply to me or people in my house
    • Transportation
• How satisfied are you that you can access the following services and supports for people with dementia in your community?
  • Top 3 Answers (least satisfied):
    • Respite care for caregivers
    • Support groups with people from similar cultural backgrounds
    • Community Events for people living with dementia

To read more about what we found with this survey click here! 

The information we gathered in this survey will be used to help guide us as we create and promote health information resources for American Indian and Alaska Native Elders.