CAN-DO: Online Mastery for Dementia Caregivers navigating health, legal, financial and family systems
Official title: Caregiver as Navigator-Developing Skills Online (CAN-DO): Developing Dementia Family Caregiver Mastery for Navigating Complex Health, Social Service, Legal, Financial, and Family Systems
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11390444 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A caregiver training program delivered online helps families caring for a person with dementia better navigate healthcare, legal, and social services to reduce stress and improve quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $713,371 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082833-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390444 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are informal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who manage multiple care needs and systems.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who do not engage with online training or whose care needs are not primarily system navigation may see limited personal benefit.
What this research studies
Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias often juggle complex systems for health, legal, financial, and family needs. This project tests the CAN-DO online program, which is a self-paced course designed to boost caregivers’ skills and confidence in navigating care and services. The study will measure caregiver mastery, emotional well-being, quality of life, and observed behavioral symptoms in the person with dementia. Building on a prior pilot, CAN-DO aims to turn caregiver navigation into a more effective and less stressful process. The approach considers social determinants that influence access to resources and care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, caregivers may experience less stress and better ability to access needed services, potentially improving care for the person with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pilot results suggested the approach is acceptable, feasible, and potentially beneficial, supporting progression to a larger test.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clevenger, Carolyn Kay — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Clevenger, Carolyn Kay
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Activities4Care: a digital assistive platform to boost well-being for people with dementia and their caregivers
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This grant studies how state essential caregiver programs during 2020-2021 affected the care and outcomes of nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
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Matching care to need in dementia transitions: tailoring services for people with dementia and their caregivers
A dementia-focused project aims to tailor hospital-to-home or SNF care transitions to fit each patient and caregiver, improving safety and reducing readmissions.
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PERSEVERE: Peer mentor support and caregiver education for Lewy body dementia
A caregiver-focused program using peer mentors and education to help families caring for Lewy body dementia and reduce caregiver strain.
-
Caregiver tele-coaching to reduce abuse and neglect in dementia care
A caregiver-focused program (CuRB-IT) teaches practical, problem-solving strategies to manage care-resistant behaviors in people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, aiming to reduce abuse and neglect in the home.
-
VR-CARES: A virtual reality caregiver support and connection platform for at-home dementia care
A caregiver-focused VR program helps home caregivers of people with dementia feel less burden and more connected by using shared virtual experiences and virtual support groups.
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.