Health changes for family caregivers as they start, go through, and end caregiving in later life
Official title: Health Trajectories During Transitions Into and Out of Caregiving in Later Life: The Role of Caregiving History
Funded at University of Missouri-Columbia · NIH-11438559 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how the health of adults who care for family or friends changes over time as they begin, continue, and finish caregiving.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $78,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG104414-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438559 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who are or have been caregivers for someone with health needs and are currently in active follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who are not currently in caregiving roles or who do not have prior caregiving experience may derive less direct benefit.
What this research studies
We want to follow caregivers aged 21 and older to understand how starting caregiving, continuing it through challenging periods, and stopping caregiving affect their physical and mental health across multiple measures. The study will track health trajectories over time and consider how past caregiving experiences influence future health during new caregiving episodes. By focusing on real-world caregiving patterns rather than a single snapshot, the project aims to identify when caregivers are most at risk and when they might benefit from support. Findings could guide better timing and types of support to help caregivers stay healthy while caring for others.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could help tailor timely support and interventions to protect caregivers’ health.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows caregiving impacts health, but this project examines health trajectories across multiple caregiving episodes and dimensions, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, I-Fen — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Lin, I-Fen
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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.