Expanding a network to improve care for older adults in the ER
Official title: Growing the Geriatric Emergency care Applied Research (GEAR 1.1) network: Expanding and sustaining an emergency care aging study infrastructure.
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11401874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide network is expanding to study and improve how emergency departments care for older patients and people living with dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $677,971 |
| NIH project number | 5R33AG058926-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401874 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults who visit the emergency department, including those living with dementia, and the care teams serving them.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to GED programs or geriatric-specific ED practices may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports growing the GEAR network to 7 health systems and hundreds of hospitals, building on an established data platform to test and share best practices for geriatric and dementia care in the ER. It focuses on creating standardized ways to collect data and run pilot studies so ED teams can better address medical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs of older adults. The effort aims to speed up learning from real-world ED care to improve patient trajectories and outcomes for aging populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could standardize geriatric and dementia care in EDs and improve outcomes for older patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous phases established a GED-focused research network and data infrastructure, demonstrating feasibility and initial utility.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hwang, Ula Y — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hwang, Ula Y
Related research
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KDARC: Building a research backbone to study aging and kidney disease
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Geriatric Health in People with HIV: How common are aging-related problems and who should be screened in the U.S.
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Cannabis use and HIV: how pot may affect aging and HIV outcomes
A big study will look at how cannabis use and cannabis use disorder affect older people with HIV, including how it relates to aging problems and HIV treatment success.
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Expanding a network to improve emergency care for older adults and people with dementia
This project builds a linked network of hospitals and shared data to improve emergency department care for older adults and people living with dementia.
-
Improving emergency care for older patients and those with dementia
This study is working to improve emergency care for older adults and people with dementia by creating a strong support system that shares the best ways to help them in hospitals, so they can receive better treatment and feel more comfortable during emergencies.
-
Improving kidney care for older adults with complex health needs
This study is working to improve kidney care for older adults, especially those who may be frail or have memory issues, by bringing together different experts to better understand their needs and make sure everyone, including those from diverse backgrounds, is included in the research.
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.