Caregiver tele-coaching to reduce abuse and neglect in dementia care
Official title: Testing Dementia Caregiver TeleCoaching to Reduce Episodes of Abuse and Neglect by Recognizing and Managing Care-Resistant Behaviors
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11392206 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $659,993 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG074255-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392206 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who provide care at home and experience care-resistant behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers of individuals with ADRD who do not encounter care-resistant behaviors or who are not open to tele-coaching may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a tele-coaching program called CuRB-IT designed for family caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Caregivers receive structured coaching to improve coping skills and use practical strategies when the person with dementia resists care tasks. The study uses a delayed-intervention randomized design with multiple measurement points, including daily diary reporting of care-resistant behaviors and caregiver stress. If CuRB-IT works, caregivers may experience less distress and there may be fewer abusive or neglectful incidents related to challenging care situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce caregiver stress and improve safety and well-being for both caregivers and people with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence suggests tele-coaching and problem-solving approaches can reduce caregiver distress in dementia care, though this exact CuRB-IT program is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jablonski, Rita a — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Jablonski, Rita a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Activities4Care: a digital assistive platform to boost well-being for people with dementia and their caregivers
A new digital platform will provide personalized, meaningful activities for people living with dementia to improve mood, behavior, and quality of life, with guidance for caregivers.
-
Family caregiver programs in nursing homes and dementia care outcomes
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
CAN-DO: Online Mastery for Dementia Caregivers navigating health, legal, financial and family systems
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.
-
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.