Improving dementia care for LGBTQ+ older adults in long-term care
Training the Long-Term Services and Supports Dementia Care Workforce in Provision of Care to Sexual and Gender Minority Residents
This project adapts and expands a training program to help long-term care staff provide more respectful, LGBTQ+‑inclusive dementia care to older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124930 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will adapt the existing 'Training to Serve' curriculum and co-design changes with residents, staff, and managers so the content fits people living with dementia. The team will use mixed methods and compare different training delivery approaches, including scalable formats beyond in-person workshops, to see which approaches change staff practice and improve resident experiences. They will also study state policies about training for long-term services and supports to identify gaps and opportunities for broader protections. Outcomes include measures of staff knowledge and behavior and reports from residents and families about care quality.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: LGBTQ+ adults aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who live in nursing homes, assisted living, or otherwise receive long-term services and supports.
Not a fit: People who are not sexual or gender minorities, who do not have dementia, or who do not receive long-term care services are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could make long-term care staff more culturally responsive and improve quality of life and safety for LGBTQ+ older adults with dementia.
How similar studies have performed: The Training to Serve curriculum has been delivered to over 12,000 long‑term care workers and appears promising but has not yet undergone rigorous comparative evaluation.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosser, B R Simon — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Rosser, B R Simon
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 below.