KAER I/DD and GUIDE: Convergence to Increase Alignment of Beneficiaries with Intellectual Disabilities

TL;DR

This paper describes an initiative to improve dementia care for adults with intellectual disabilities by training caregivers and aligning programs with specialized tools.

Contribution

The paper introduces a training initiative combining the GUIDE Model and KAER ID/D to improve dementia care for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Findings

Training modules were developed to enhance provider capabilities in enrolling beneficiaries with ID into dementia care programs.

Integration of KAER ID/D principles improved competencies in ID and dementia care among program personnel.

The initiative aims to increase equitable support and participation for adults with ID in dementia care.

Abstract

Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) face significant barriers accessing dementia care, particularly in marginalized communities. To address these disparities, the National-Task-Group-on-Intellectual-Disabilities-and-Dementia-Practices (NTG) developed a grant-funded educational initiative linked to the Centers-for-Medicare-&-Medicaid’s Guiding-an-Improved-Dementia-Experience (GUIDE) Model to: (1) equip care navigators and practitioners with ID-specific knowledge and skills, and (2) increase rates of accommodation of Medicare beneficiaries with ID and dementia within GUIDE Participant programs. This initiative corresponded NTG technical expertise with the Gerontological-Society-of-America’s (GSA) Addressing-Brain-Health-in-Adults-with-Intellectual-and-Developmental-Disabilities: A Companion to the GSA KAER-Toolkit-for-Brain-Health (KAER ID/D), an adaptation of the KAER framework designed to improve dementia screening, diagnosis, and care planning for individuals with ID and other developmental disabilities.

As GUIDE participant sites launched in 2024 and 2025, the NTG created specialized training materials and technical assistance resources to enhance provider capabilities to enroll more beneficiaries with ID. Training modules covered three core areas: (1) information on ID (and related conditions) and dementia care planning, (2) caregiving histories and family dynamics in ID populations, and (3) connections with ID-focused service providers. Standardized, scalable education was delivered through learning management system training packs for GUIDE navigators and an online seminar series on dementia screening and diagnostics for practitioners.

By integrating KAER ID/D principles, NTG ensured that GUIDE program personnel, particularly navigators, gained essential competencies in ID and dementia care. This training initiative enhanced the capacity of GUIDE agencies to provide equitable, informed, and effective support for adults with ID, ultimately increasing participation and improving care outcomes within this underserved population.