IU Health Tipton first hospital in Indiana to achieve dual dementia-friendly designations

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

IU Health Tipton Hospital partnered with the IU Health Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Service to improve care for dementia patients, achieving the ADRS Dementia Friendly, Level 1 designation. The hospital is the first in the state to receive this designation along with the Dementia Friends Indiana designation from CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions.

IU Health Tipton, in an effort to better care for all patients who walk through the hospital doors, recently completed training to receive the Dementia Friendly, Level 1 designation from the IU Health Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Service (ADRS). This is a continuation of previous training IU Health Tipton team members completed in 2018, when the hospital received a Dementia Friends Indiana designation from CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, a non-profit that works closely with the ADRS to provide training. IU Health Tipton is the first hospital in the state to receive both designations.

Both training courses help team members better support individuals living with dementia. Dementia refers to a group of diseases that affect the brain and cause memory loss and difficulty with communicating and thinking. Common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, difficulty finding the right words to say in everyday language, mood changes, difficulty focusing, slower reasoning and comprehension as well as confusion. The ADRS training covers education about dementia, how to communicate with someone living with dementia, how to create an inviting environment for these individuals and more.

“IU Health Tipton strives to provide the best care for our patients and the community we serve,” says Amy Sorrells, nursing professional development practitioner at IU Health Tipton. “This Dementia Friendly designation is a reflection of that commitment.”

Receiving the designation required more than fifty percent of hospital team members to complete the ADRS training. At IU Health Tipton, over 92% of team members completed the training with a passing score.

This commitment to better care for patients with dementia is more important now than ever. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in nine of those in Indiana aged 45 and over report they are experiencing confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse.

Additionally, a 2023 study reports many who have dementia and live in rural areas do not have access to adequate dementia-friendly healthcare.

IU Health Tipton plans to continue efforts to better accommodate patients with dementia with the announcement of this designation. Sorrells intends to continue education with all team members and new hires, to better serve Tipton and the surrounding communities.

Learn more about dementia and treatment options here. If you are interested in working for an organization that is dedicated to providing the best care designed for each patient, IU Health is hiring in several areas. Learn more at careers.iuhealth.org.