Page 54 - Healthy Brain Initiative, State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018-2023 Road Map

COLORADO

Preparing First Responders for Interactions with People with Dementia

Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers receive TIPS FOR EMS WORKING WITH

many calls to assist people with Alzheimer’s and other PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S

dementias. However, they have little or no formal THERE ARE 67,000 PEOPLE AGE 65 AND OLDER WITH

ALZHEIMER’S
DISEASE
IN

COLORADO.
training to prepare them for the unique physical, THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 76,000 BY 2020.
behavioral, and communication challenges related to ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND OTHER

dementia. RELATED DEMENTIAS
are progressive impairments of cognitive
function that a‹ ects a person’s thinking,
emotions and behavior. Signs include: memory
To develop a dementia-competent workforce impairment, aphasia (language disturbance),
apraxia (impaired motor function), agnosia
(failure to recognize otherwise-familiar objects)
throughout Colorado, the Colorado Department and disturbance in executive function (failure to
plan, organize and think abstractly). These are
of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) not mental illnesses.

WHEN ENCOUNTERING A PERSON WITH ALZHEIMER’S

partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado COMMUNICATE
Chapter to deliver its Approaching Alzheimer’s: First Use the TALK tactics:
Responder Training Program. CDPHE marketed the Take it slow
availability of the free, in-person training through its Ask simple questions
internal networks and all 11 of Colorado’s Regional Limit reality checks
Keep eye contact
Emergency and Trauma Advisory Councils.
DO DON’T
The training helps first responders serve people • Approach slowly and from the front • Take comments personally
• Introduce yourself and explain you are • Approach from behind without warning
with Alzheimer’s in situations involving wandering, there to help • Argue or correct the person
• Remain calm, smile and use a friendly • Touch without asking/ explaining
disasters or other emergency situations, abuse or • Speak slowly and allow time for • Forget about co-morbidities
voice
response (15-30 seconds)
neglect, “shoplifting” because they forgot to pay, and • Change the subject to something
pleasant if the person becomes agitated
driving. At the completion of training, participants
24/7 HELPLINE 800.272.3900
receive a poster—Tips for EMS Working with People ALZ.ORG/CO
with Alzheimer’s—to display and reinforce effective
responses. •

48 Healthy Brain Initiative State and Local Public Health Partnerships to Address Dementia: The 2018–2023 Road Map