How shifts in long-term care affect older adults with and without Alzheimer's and related dementias

Effects of Changes in the Long-Term Care Environment on Patterns of Care Use and Outcomes for High Need Older Adults with and without Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia

NIH-funded research Syracuse University · NIH-11304507

This project looks at how recent changes in long-term care options affect the daily care and health of older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's or related dementias.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSyracuse University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Syracuse, United States)
Project IDNIH-11304507 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

The team combines two large national surveys (HRS and NHATS) with geographic information and Medicare records to follow patterns of care for high-need older adults over time. They compare people with daily care limitations who do and do not have Alzheimer's or related dementias to see which care arrangements stay stable and which are disrupted. Researchers use advanced statistical methods to try to separate the effects of shifting long-term care options from other factors. The work examines changes in family care, paid home care, assisted living, nursing home use, and related outcomes like hospital visits or unmet daily needs.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults aged 65 and older with limitations in daily activities and people living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, along with their caregivers, are the main groups this work focuses on.

Not a fit: Younger adults or older adults without care needs or dementia are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help families and policymakers design long-term care options that keep vulnerable older adults safer, better supported, and less likely to have avoidable hospital visits.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using HRS, NHATS, and Medicare data have linked care arrangements to health outcomes, but applying stronger causal methods to recent long-term care shifts is a newer approach.

Where this research is happening

Syracuse, 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.
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.