Improving daily care interactions for residents with dementia in assisted living facilities
Official title: Optimizing the Daily Care Interactions Between Direct Care Staff and Assisted Living Residents with Dementia
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10809851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping staff in assisted living facilities connect better with residents who have Alzheimer's and related dementias by teaching them how to understand and respond to their needs and feelings, making daily care more positive and respectful for everyone involved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $230,194 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG080238-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10809851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are residents of assisted living facilities who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in assisted living facilities or who do not have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the quality of daily care interactions between staff and residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in assisted living facilities. It aims to identify and implement positive care approaches that respect residents' abilities and preferences while addressing their communication challenges. By training staff to recognize non-verbal cues and manage their responses effectively, the project seeks to reduce instances of poor care interactions, which can negatively impact both residents and caregivers. The intervention will be pilot tested to evaluate its feasibility and cultural relevance in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved emotional and behavioral outcomes for residents with dementia, as well as increased job satisfaction and competence among care staff.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing positive care approaches can significantly improve interactions and outcomes for individuals with dementia, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paudel, Anju — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Paudel, Anju
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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.