Target Audience: Primary Care Providers (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN)

Credits: 1 Credit, 1 Contact Hours (AAFP)

Overview: Join our self-paced educational program to learn to recognize and understand the need for patients and caregivers to develop advance care plans as early in the disease process as possible, what decisions must be made, and the provider’s role in assisting families in the process throughout the various stages of dementia.

Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:
  1. Describe two staging methods for Alzheimer's dementia and the value of each
  2. Gain confidence in discussing resources for living with dementia with caregivers
  3. Explain what needs should be addressed at differing stages of dementia
  4. Identify the distinction between palliative care and hospice care for dementia, and the appropriate timing for referral to each
  5. Describe hospice criteria for Alzheimer's dementia
Learning Outcome Statement: Learners will demonstrate increased knowledge to assist their patients with dementia and their families through the trajectory of the illness by recognizing the stages of dementia and performing person-centered advance care planning. To obtain credit and a certificate of completion, learners will score 80% or higher on a post-test and complete a program evaluation.

Credits:
  • Faculty: Ian Neel, MD, Geriatrician, UC San Diego Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care; and Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC, HEC-C, Palliative Care Physician, Stone Mountain Medical Associates, Inc.
  • County of San Diego Alzheimer’s Project Clinical Roundtable Provider Education Committee
  • Champions for Health

Disclosures:
  • Dr. Steinberg received funding from Moderna in 2025 for a vaccine implementation study

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