At the Broadlawns Memory Center in Des Moines, IA, one of our commitments is to expand and build on community-based outreach and education with the GWEP – Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. The Memory Center provides education to Residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals in training through time spent with our clinic team. We are committed to teaching and outreach in the community, whether it is a group of professionals or individuals gathered at their faith-based community. We recognize we have to take our work and education from the clinic out into the community and meet individuals where they are. Beginning this year, we had the opportunity to share education and training with our Broadlawns TECH & TEACH Apprenticeship Program. 

The TECH & TEACH Apprenticeship Programs are offered in partnership with Urban Dreams, Central Iowa HealthWorks, Des Moines Public Schools, and DMACC. Broadlawns Medical Center is proud to provide paid apprenticeship opportunities for individuals pursuing a healthcare career. The program includes TECH (Training and Education for a Career in Healthcare), designed for high school students. TEACH (Training and Education for Adults seeking a career in Healthcare) is tailored for adults. Participants are introduced to Broadlawns' work culture and career paths while completing both basic and advanced Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training. Established in 2016, the TEACH and TECH programs are part of a multifaceted approach to address the social determinants of health in the North Des Moines community. As the largest employer in North Des Moines, Broadlawns recognizes that enhancing community health goes beyond traditional medical care. GWEP assisted Broadlawns in enhancing our ability to offer dementia training through a series of sessions, thereby improving the education and clinical work that CNA apprentices complete during their clinical and classroom learning—preparing them to work with our growing dementia population. 

In January, we launched eight dementia-focused sessions for the first group of TEACH apprentices. The sessions included materials created by the University of Iowa Geriatric Education Center. The three newly developed simulation sessions included the following topics: 

• Recognizing Pain in Persons Living with Dementia: A Simulation on Observation and Communication 
• Oral Care Matters: Understanding: Understanding the Importance of Oral Health in Individuals Living with Dementia 
• From Observation to Action: Using Tools to Repot Delirium Signs to a Nurse 

The simulations expanded areas covered in the traditional curriculum and enhanced the students' ability to assess patient or resident care in individuals living with cognitive changes. Through our GWEP work with the University of Iowa, we also offered a session that included Embodied Labs. This virtual simulation covered the topic of end-of-life conversations. Dementia Friendly Iowa was also able to provide a session and certificates to the CNA Apprentices; as another GWEP partner, it was nice to share the focus on the community and individuals who are advocating and working to ensure the community is prepared to support those living with dementia. Our final session with the CNA Apprentices included education and training with Dr. Yogesh Shah, the Medical Director of the Memory Center and an avid supporter of the TEACH/TECH program. He was able to join the apprentices for their final session. Providing information on dementia prevention and the importance of early detection. He shared with the apprentices their ability to now have an impact on their communities by sharing the knowledge and training they are receiving. The apprentices also gained insight and understanding of the work of the Broadlawns Memory Clinic and advancements in early detection and treatment. The apprentices concluded this session by completing training in administering the mini-cognitive assessment. The Mini-Cog is a simple, quick, and effective tool for screening cognitive impairment. We want the apprentices to develop their ability and understanding of the Mini-Cog, ensuring they gain additional skills and tools to carry into their future work. 

It was meaningful to watch the apprentices in this pilot session grow. They sought to establish the next steps in their careers and education, securing positions as CNAs, being accepted into nursing programs, or preparing to explore the field of social work. They shared their growth during the sessions by making connections between the dementia knowledge gained and their own experiences, whether in clinical shadowing or the classroom. The education provided during this pilot session expanded the learner's knowledge and opportunities. As we continue to provide ongoing dementia education to our TEACH and TECH apprentices, our collaboration with the University of Iowa Geriatric Education Center - GWEP ensures that we will be able to work with leaders and those at the forefront of dementia education and opportunities in Iowa. 

It is with both excitement and gratitude that Broadlawns will continue to offer dementia-focused educational sessions to our TEACH and TECH apprentices. Forty high school students are preparing for this summer's TECH program to earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certification. We know that the dementia education they will receive through the dementia-focused sessions will enhance the traditional CNA training they are currently receiving. While we help set them apart and push them further ahead in their preparation for a career in healthcare and continuing their education, we also help them succeed. They are obtaining additional certifications, and one of the most significant impacts they will have is working as advocates in their community, providing education and resources to those who are unaware of the importance of early detection or the resources available to support individuals living with dementia, their care partners, and families. At the Broadlawns Memory Center, we are excited to have our work and those we share and work with foster the idea that all of us in Iowa will support individuals living with dementia, whether they are in healthcare, ringing up their groceries, or sitting next to them at church. We value all the GWEP participants and their ability to collaborate, share, and come together to make a difference in our communities.

We look forward to seeing the future impacts of the work, programs, and education.