The Importance of Cultural Considerations in Dementia Care

General Course
2 CE credits
LIVE, Interactive Webinar

Course Description: Available population data may underestimate the risk and prevalence of dementia across diverse communities in the United States, and there is often a limited understanding of the specific needs these communities face. This gap has contributed to insufficient culturally informed support in dementia care. This cultural competence course is designed to broaden participants’ understanding of how dementia is perceived within specific populations, including Black Americans, Latine/Latino Americans, Asian Americans, and American Indigenous populations. Participants will explore what caregiving for elders means within these cultures, how experiences of discrimination in healthcare can impact overall health, and how care systems can work to provide culturally sensitive dementia services. Cultural competence is not a one-time achievement—it is an ongoing process of learning, reflection, and adaptation. This fully interactive live webinar encourages engagement throughout. Attendees may ask questions, participate in instructor-led discussions, engage in case vignette analysis, and take part in a Q&A session at the end.

From this course attendees will be able to:

1. Describe how dementia risk, prevalence, and experiences of caregiving vary across diverse populations in the United States.
2. Explain how cultural beliefs and values influence perceptions of dementia and approaches to care for older adults.
3. Recognize the impact of discrimination and systemic inequities on the health and wellbeing of individuals with dementia.
4. Apply principles of cultural competence to develop and provide more inclusive, culturally sensitive dementia care.
5. Engage in ongoing reflection and learning to enhance cultural awareness and responsiveness in professional practice.