Impact of telemedicine on health care for older adults with dementia during COVID-19
Official title: Telemedicine and health disparities among community-dwelling older adults with ADRD during COVID-19 pandemic
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-10883900 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the rise of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed access to healthcare for older adults living with Alzheimer's and related conditions, especially focusing on how different racial and ethnic groups have been affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $244,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG073052-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10883900 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, especially those from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not community-dwelling or do not have a diagnosis of ADRD may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the expansion of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected access to healthcare for community-dwelling older adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). It focuses on understanding the disparities in healthcare utilization among different racial and ethnic groups, particularly how these disparities may have changed due to the pandemic. By analyzing data on outpatient care before and after the introduction of telemedicine policies, the study aims to identify potential barriers and facilitators to care for these vulnerable populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved telemedicine policies that enhance healthcare access for older adults with ADRD, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that telemedicine can improve access to care for certain populations, but this specific focus on ADRD and racial/ethnic disparities is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Shubing — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Cai, Shubing
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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.