Strategies for Building a Dementia-Capable Workforce in Hawai'i

Health care workers with specialized knowledge and skills to work with people living with symptoms of dementia are needed in all sectors of the health care industry in Hawai'i as the number of people in the population diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) is expected to increase along with the overall number of older adults (ages 65+). This article provides a scoping review of relevant population data that suggest an urgency to address this need even as the state contends with an overall shortage of workers throughout the public health and health care industry. The authors then provide practical solutions, recommending a multi-pronged approach to introduce or enhance dementia-care competencies at various levels of education - from high school to graduate or professional studies - and through continuing education and professional development programs for practicing health professionals. Consistent with the public health philosophy of health equity, the authors propose that providing quality care to persons living with dementia is a social justice goal that can be achieved through this multi-pronged approach.