Improving Communication to Help Residents with Alzheimer's Disease in Long-Term Care
Official title: Changing Talk Online Training (CHATO): A National Trial to Reduce Behavioral Symptoms in Long Term Care Residents with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11105929 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project helps nursing home staff learn better ways to talk with residents who have Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, aiming to make residents feel more comfortable and reduce challenging behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $667,846 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG069171-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105929 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project focuses on improving care for nursing home residents aged 21 and older who have Alzheimer's disease or other dementias and experience behavioral symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not residing in long-term care facilities or those without dementia-related behavioral symptoms would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in nursing homes often show challenging behaviors like aggression or vocal outbursts because they struggle to express their needs. Sometimes, staff use 'elderspeak,' a demeaning way of talking similar to baby talk, which can worsen these behaviors. This project offers an online training called CHATO to teach staff person-centered communication strategies instead of elderspeak. By improving how staff communicate, we hope to reduce residents' challenging behaviors and the need for medications, ultimately enhancing their quality of life. The online format makes this valuable training more accessible for many nursing homes, including those in rural areas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this training could lead to fewer challenging behaviors, less need for psychotropic medication, and a better quality of life for nursing home residents with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: A previous classroom-based version of this training program has already shown success in reducing staff elderspeak and residents' behavioral symptoms.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Kristine N. — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Williams, Kristine N.
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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.