During one Introduction to Health Science and Public Health (HLTH 110) class this semester, students got to see public health education in action by taking part in the Dementia Friends Idaho program.
School of Public and Population Health adjunct instructor Tiffany Robb, who teaches the course, started the class by sharing: “Everyone here will interact with or be touched by dementia in their life, and it is better to know the facts about dementia than stigmas and myths.”
Robb helped launch Dementia Friends Idaho and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program as part of her work with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Robb also helped improve the national curriculum by adding a section about brain health based on current research, which draws a correlation between 14 modifiable risk factors and brain health. These modifiable risk factors, she said, can be helpful for anyone to learn at an early age — especially students.
Dementia is not a specific disease, but an umbrella term for any type of cognitive decline that negatively impacts one’s daily life and ability to function. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
With a better understanding of dementia, Robb hopes her students recognize its complexities and the stigmas that surround dementia. Robb says dementia is not a normal part of aging — but with early detection, those living with dementia can lead quality lives.
In an effort to show students a broad array of health science and public health fields, Robb invited two Idaho Dementia Friends Champions to teach students about dementia, the work being done toward preventing dementia and the community collaboratives to reduce dementia stigmas.
Health Program Specialists Sarah Weber and Alyssa Romero are Dementia Friends Champions and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program staff with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Weber and Romero led the presentation and got students thinking about how they may have already been connected to those living with dementia and ways they may encounter dementia in the future.
For Romero, raising awareness and empowering others to get educated about dementia drives her passion for being part of the program.
“Through the work of Dementia Friends Champions, community members are empowered to raise awareness, reduce stigma and create safer, more welcoming environments for people living with dementia and their care partners,” Romero said.
In addition to learning about prevention, Robb wanted her students to see public health education in action from young public health professionals like Romero, who is also an SPPH alum.
“(During my time as an SPPH student) I learned the value of having open and honest conversations, and that meaningful changes in public health start with small, community-based efforts that can grow into broader, lasting impact,” Romero said.
As both a pre-radiological sciences student and a current health care worker, who regularly interacts with people living with dementia, Eliana Edwards participated in the class training to broaden her understanding of the disease.
“Becoming a Dementia Friend has made me more aware, more compassionate and more confident that I can be a source of support for my community,” Edwards said.
For health studies student Brenda Jimenez, learned it takes an educated, engaged community to help make quality life achievable for those living with dementia.
“My biggest takeaway was that patience and kindness go a long way,” Jimenez said.
Students left the 60-minute training with a better understanding of dementia, prevention strategies and the education to help break stigmas surrounding dementia. They also became Dementia Friends certified and each received a certificate for completing the training.
While there is no cure for dementia and many facets of the disease are still being learned by researchers, health care workers and the broader community, Robb hopes engaging future health educators and providers early in their classes will aid in new discoveries and a broader understanding.
“I love being with the students, exposing them to real-life (public health) examples and situations,” Robb said. “I feel that teaching allows me to give back and contribute towards a better future for all of us.”