Advancing Whole-Person Primary Care for Patients with Dementia and Multiple Chronic Conditions

  • Project Description

    Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) often have multiple chronic conditions that complicate their care needs. Primary care clinicians play a central role in managing these patients, balancing dementia care with the treatment of co-occurring conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and depression. However, there is limited evidence on how clinicians navigate these challenges or what strategies are most effective.

    This project will use qualitative secondary analysis of interviews with primary care providers and patients to identify challenges, care delivery gaps, and strategies for whole-person care. Findings will inform workforce development, team-based care models, and care coordination approaches to improve outcomes for this medically complex population.

    Key Objectives

    This project aims to answer these questions:

    • What are the key challenges, unmet needs, and care delivery gaps affecting the care of people with dementia who have multiple chronic conditions in primary care settings?

    • What are strategies and practices that primary care clinicians and their teams use to support dementia detection, chronic disease management, care coordination, and other aspects of whole-person primary care for patients with dementia and multiple chronic conditions?

    • What are workforce and health system recommendations that can strengthen primary care capacity to care for patients with dementia and multiple chronic conditions?

    Contact

    For more information, contact Alissa Sideman.

    Interactive Map