ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, 2021 Community Benefit

ProHealth Care Offers Virtual Bilingual, Dementia-Friendly Workshops

A ProHealth Care workshop attendee with a certificate of workshop completion.
ProHealth Care’s Hispanic Health Resource Center is providing education, support and digital tablets to Spanish-speaking community members who care for loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The tablets allow attendees to participate in the center’s new “Ayudando con Cariño” or “Assisting with Care” workshops.
“The workshops help support older adults so they can continue to thrive in their own homes and neighborhoods,” said Saul Juarez Aguilar, center manager.
Trained health promoters engage workshop attendees in topics including dementia-related diseases, community resources, and how caregivers can provide care and support and practice self-care. Included are videos, interactive activities, facilitated dialog, and individualized engagement.
Potential attendees were first asked whether they had digital tools and internet access. A number of them replied that they would need a digital device and personalized training to attend. A grant quickly led to the purchase of the first 25 tablets.
Health care promoters learned how to load digital content, lead virtual programs, use the tablets and teach attendees how to use them. Content was translated from English to Spanish and supplemented with extra materials. Staff were also trained in dementia-friendly practices.
The workshops are the first initiative in a long-term effort to bring dementia-friendly programming to the Spanish-speaking community in Waukesha County.
ProHealth’s center is collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Aging & Disability Resource Center of Waukesha County, and UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health to provide workshop content and evaluate the program. Staff are also working with the Alzheimer's Association and United Community Center in Milwaukee to ensure program efficacy.
Results will be measured using UW School of Medicine tools and ProHealth Research Institute guidance. Each attendee also provides feedback in a separate online meeting. The results will be reviewed by the ProHealth Care Institutional Review Board and provided to the state and university.