A toolkit to help family caregivers identify and communicate pain in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Official title: The Pain Identification and Communication Toolkit: A Training Program to Support Family Caregivers of Persons with ADRD
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11023145 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a helpful training program for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias, teaching them how to spot and talk about pain so they can better support their loved ones in managing discomfort.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $772,380 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079932-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11023145 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are family caregivers of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a training program called the Pain Identification and Communication Toolkit (PICT) to assist family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in recognizing and communicating about pain. The program includes training on using an observational pain assessment tool, coaching on effective communication strategies, and opportunities for caregivers to practice their skills. By enhancing caregivers' abilities to identify and articulate pain, the research aims to improve pain management for those with ADRD, who often struggle to express their discomfort due to cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better pain management for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that caregiver training programs can effectively improve pain assessment and management in similar populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riffin, Catherine — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Riffin, Catherine
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.