Strategies for community-based dementia education and creating sustainable change: Lessons learned from the Community Outreach Education Program

Abstract

The Community Outreach Education Program (COEP) was established to disseminate information about the diagnosis, assessment, management, and treatment of dementia to health care professionals, service providers, staff of community organizations and voluntary agencies, and family caregivers in communities throughout Michigan. This paper will describe the activities implemented as part of outreach educational interventions in Bay City, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lessons learned about community-based dementia education and strategies for creating sustainable change are discussed.