Providers & Healthcare Professionals
Supporting Patients Beyond the Exam Room
Head Forward South Dakota supports your work by extending evidence-based education, trusted resources, and practical guidance beyond the clinical setting—helping patients and caregivers navigate next steps with clarity, dignity, and confidence.
Our role is to reinforce clinical care, not replace it—providing long-term support in alignment with national best practices.
- Promote early detection and diagnosis, and patient/family education
- Deliver person-centered care that respects individual history, preferences, and cultural needs.
- Support caregivers with guidance, resources, and referrals
- Enhance communication strategies using clear, simple language
- Coordinate care across disciplines to ensure continuity
- Stay informed on best practices and emerging treatments
A Guide for Navigating Dementia
A practical, family-friendly roadmap you can share with patients and care partners. It outlines what to expect after an Alzheimer's Disease or other form of dementia diagnosis, how to plan, and where to find support in South Dakota, helping you reinforce early detection, care coordination, and confident next steps.
Resources and Guides
Access a curated collection of practical resources and step-by-step guides designed to support diagnosis and engagement for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Clinician Resources for Dementia Detection, Diagnosis & Care
South Dakota clinicians play a critical role in early detection and high‑quality dementia care. This page brings together screening tools, treatment guidance, referral pathways, CME opportunities, and current data to support your practice.
Treatment Options & Clinical Guidance
The Alzheimer’s Association provides up‑to‑date information on FDA‑approved treatments, appropriate use recommendations, safety considerations, and guidance for discussing treatment options with patients and families.
Cognitive Screening Tools
Early detection starts with brief, validated tools that fit easily into primary care workflows. The Cognitive Assessment Toolkit includes the Mini‑Cog, MoCA, and AD8, plus scoring instructions.
Free CME / CE for Clinicians
The Alzheimer’s Association offers free continuing education for physicians, nurses, social workers, and other professionals, covering diagnosis, treatment, communication, and dementia care best practices.
ALZ Pro: Dementia Care Learning Hub
A free online learning hub from the Alzheimer’s Association offering evidence‑based training, videos, and tools to help professionals and caregivers strengthen their skills in dementia care.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care ECHO® Program
A virtual learning program that connects dementia experts with community providers and caregivers through case discussions and practical guidance to improve care in real‑world settings.
The National Council for Dementia Minds (NCDM)
The NCDM is a pioneering nonprofit organization founded and governed by individuals living with dementia, dedicated to empowering and supporting those affected by neurocognitive disorders.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support
Find plain-language guides for your patients and their caregivers.
Get Involved with Brain Health
Learn how you can get involved with brain health and how your expertise and action can make a difference.
Healthy Brain Program
The Healthy Brain Program improves understanding of brain health as a central part of public health practice.
Referral Pathways for Rural & Frontier Providers
For patients who screen positive or present with cognitive concerns, regional memory programs can provide diagnostic clarification, care planning, and specialist support.
South Dakota Memory Programs:
Doctors with Dementia: Flipping the Script
Six retired physicians living with dementia share their personal experiences of receiving a dementia diagnosis. Now that they’ve experienced dementia from both sides of the physician’s desk, they're on a mission to improve the health care system—and to empower future patients navigating cognitive changes. They are " Prescription for Change.”
Sign Up for Our Newsletter to Stay Informed
Stay informed on brain care, prevention, and caregiver resources by signing up for the Head Forward South Dakota newsletter.