UC San Francisco has been awarded nearly $5 million in federal funding to launch a national center to help organizations and communities improve how dementia is detected and managed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) chose UCSF as one of four Public Health Centers of Excellence—the only one on the West Coast—to establish the Brain Health Action, Community Engagement, and Outreach Network (BEACON). The center will help health care organizations, public health agencies, and communities nationwide put evidence-based approaches to dementia care into practice.
Researchers have made great progress in detecting and treating dementia, yet challenges remain in recognizing cognitive changes early and connecting people with appropriate services. BEACON will help bridge the gap between research and practice by translating evidence into practical tools, training, and technical assistance, said Jarmin Yeh, PhD, MPH, MSSW, an associate professor at the UCSF School of Nursing’s Institute for Health & Aging.
“Early detection can open the door to better care and support, but we need to make sure proven approaches reach the people and communities that need them,” said Yeh. “BEACON gives us an opportunity to take what we know works and use it in real-world settings.”
The center will also focus on strengthening the workforce that supports people living with dementia, including direct care workers, home care providers, and family caregivers.
Caregivers are often well positioned to recognize cognitive changes, support daily needs, and help people maintain their quality of life, noted Susie Welty, MPH, a UCSF academic program manager.
“Supporting people living with dementia means supporting the people who care for them,” said Welty. “BEACON will help give caregivers and communities the tools and resources they need.”
Housed within the UCSF School of Nursing’s Institute for Health & Aging, the center will draw on expertise across UCSF. Funding for BEACON comes from the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, which directs the CDC to strengthen the nation’s public health infrastructure.
About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health , which serves as UCSF’s primary academic medical system, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. UCSF School of Medicine also has a regional campus in Fresno. Learn more at ucsf.edu .
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