Helping caregivers of people with dementia who have swallowing difficulties

Reducing Burden in Care Partners of Community-Dwelling Persons with Dementia and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

NIH-funded research Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-10899419

This study is creating a helpful online tool for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related conditions who have trouble swallowing, so they can get the support and resources they need to make mealtime easier and improve everyone's quality of life.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionFeinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Manhasset, United States)
Project IDNIH-10899419 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to develop and test a web-based tool called WeCareToFeedDysphagia, designed to support caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias who experience oropharyngeal dysphagia. The project will first adapt and refine the tool based on caregiver feedback, followed by a larger trial to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing caregiver burden. The tool will provide caregivers with essential knowledge, skills, and resources to manage feeding challenges, ultimately improving their quality of life and that of the patients they care for.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are caregivers of community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and older who have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias and experience oropharyngeal dysphagia.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, or who do not experience swallowing difficulties, may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly alleviate the stress and challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with dementia and swallowing difficulties.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that caregiver support tools can effectively reduce caregiver burden, indicating a promising avenue for this approach.

Where this research is happening

Manhasset, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementia
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.