Improving daily care interactions for residents with dementia in assisted living facilities

Optimizing the Daily Care Interactions Between Direct Care Staff and Assisted Living Residents with Dementia

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10809851

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 typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10809851 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are residents of assisted living facilities who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

University Park, 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 dementiaAlzheimer syndromeAlzheimer's DiseaseAlzheimer's disease and related 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.