A virtual mindfulness coach for caregivers of dementia patients
Official title: A Personalized and Culturally Responsive Mindfulness Virtual Coach to Support Dementia Caregivers
Funded at Beaver Health, INC. · NIH-10921850 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly online coaching program called Oasis that helps family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias by offering personalized mindfulness tools to reduce stress and anxiety, making it easier for them to take care of themselves while they care for their loved ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beaver Health, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Jose, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $499,961 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AG085865-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10921850 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are family caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias, particularly those from minoritized backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not caregivers or do not have family members with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research develops a personalized and culturally responsive virtual coaching platform called Oasis, aimed at supporting family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). The platform will provide mindfulness-based interventions to help caregivers manage stress, anxiety, and depression, which are prevalent among those caring for dementia patients. By addressing barriers such as cost, time, and cultural stigma, Oasis aims to improve caregiver engagement and adherence to mindfulness practices. The approach is designed to be interactive and tailored to the unique cultural contexts of diverse caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the mental well-being of caregivers, leading to better care for individuals with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that mindfulness interventions can effectively reduce stress and improve mental health outcomes for caregivers, indicating a promising approach for this project.
Where this research is happening
-
Beaver Health, INC.
San Jose, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Emily S. — Beaver Health, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wang, Emily S.
Related research
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Supporting dementia caregivers with an evidence-based community program
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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.