News Release: IA2 partners with the National Indian Council on Aging

July 2, 2021
Contact:
Mary Ann Franks, Public Health Communications Associate, maryann@iasquared.org

HOTEL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN JULY 5, 2021 TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNTED RATE.

“Resilience for Tomorrow… Together,” the American Indian elders conference hosted by the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) will unfold in Reno, Nevada, at the Nugget Casino and Resort August 1 -6, 2021.

“This theme couldn’t be more fitting given the challenges that Indian country has faced this past year. Particularly the devastating loss of so many elders,” said Dave Baldridge, International Association for Indigenous Aging’s (IA²) executive director and board member. “IA² is excited to announce partnerships with Dr. J. Neil Henderson, the National Resource Center for Native American Aging (NRCNAA), and Dr. Jennifer Carson from the University of Nevada, Reno, to bring multiple training opportunities for elder advocates, community health representatives, and elders to the conference.”

NICOA hopes to bring nearly 1,000 American Indian and Alaska Native elders, caregivers, key players, aging network providers, elected tribal representatives, and various community organizations together at the event.  As one of the nation’s first conferences to meet in person since COVID-19, “we heard loud and clear from our members that it is time to pick up and move forward. They told us it is critical for this gathering to take place. Now more than ever, we need to highlight the needs and work to address issues facing Native elders,” said NICOA Executive Director Larry Curley.

IA²  will host multiple trainings and listening sessions with the support of grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation, and Dementia Friends training support provided by Univ. of Nevada, Reno.

In addition, IA² will offer up to 25 travel scholarships to help staff who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend the trainings.

Sessions include:

• Savvy Caregiver for Indian Country Program Leader Training (3-day training; dementia-specific)
• Native Elder Caregiver Curriculum Training for Professionals (1-day training; not dementia-specific)
• Dementia Friends Champion culturally adapted workshop training and certification (4-hour trainings on new culturally adapted content)
• Dementia wandering session
• Daily listening sessions for participants to discuss community needs for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia information resources
• & more

“I am so excited to work with IA² as the training lead on the cultural adaptation and update to the Dementia Friends USA community session training content,” said Dr. Jennifer Carson of the Univ. of Nevada, Reno. “We have had the honor of offering community information sessions using the original Dementia Friends training materials to more than 1,300 people across Nevada. We have also trained several Nevada tribal members as Champions who are offering information sessions in their communities. Dementia Friends is a program that gets the word out, and it works,” according to Carson.

IA² has signed on as a national licensee for the Dementia Friends program. This license allows tribes, urban Indian health organizations, and Alaska Native communities to receive training and affiliate with IA² versus non-Native leads in their state.

The NICOA conference will also include sessions on American Indian politics and legislation, health, safety, elder abuse, caregiving, financial management, employment, retirement, and the Older Americans Act. The conference offers workshops and training for elders, caregivers, and professionals working with elders. Favorite conference events include the Native elder’s fashion show, Veteran’s luncheon, and closing banquet. NICOA also gathers input from voting members to help resolve various aging policy agendas in Washington, D.C.

“This conference provides a great opportunity for us to lift up the voices of Native elders from across the nation.  It will help address our goal of increasing awareness and education about Alzheimer’s and dementia and the needs of caregivers,” says Baldridge, “and work towards growth and positive change for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

To register for the conference’s IA² training sessions and apply for training scholarships for the Native Elder Caregiver Curriculum or Savvy Caregiver for Indian Country Program Leader Training visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DX97SJF

HOTEL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN JULY 5, 2021 TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNTED RATE
Nugget Casino Resort
1100 Nugget Avenue
Sparks, NV 89431

Special group rate is $89 + 14.02 fees/tax = $103.02 per night (estimated).
Type this link or, copy and paste the link into any web browser to book, modify, or cancel reservations http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=2740835&hotelID=96145

Attendees can also call one of our reservation desk to set up a reservation at 1-800-648-1177 and refer to the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) discounted room rate code GNICA20. This rate is available (2) two days prior to the conference and (2) two days after the conference.

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These activities are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC Foundation, and University of Nevada, Reno. The CDC funding is part of a financial assistance award totaling $348,711 with approximately 80% percent of these activities funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.