KINDER: A new approach to help family caregivers prevent psychological elder abuse in dementia care
Official title: Knowledge and Interpersonal Skills to Develop Enhanced Relationships (KINDER): Testing the Efficacy of an Intervention to Prevent Psychological Elder Abuse in Family Caregiving
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11416728 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests a caregiver-focused program designed to reduce psychological abuse by family members caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $675,369 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG093797-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416728 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult caregivers (21+) of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who are at risk for psychological elder abuse.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers not experiencing relationship strain or who are unwilling to engage in behavioral training may see little to no benefit.
What this research studies
If you’re a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer's or a related dementia, this project tests a relationship-centered program to help you manage stressful caregiving moments and communicate more effectively. The study uses two groups in a randomized setup over several years to measure changes in caregiving interactions and risk of psychological abuse. Researchers will train caregivers in skills and provide support to apply these strategies in real-life caregiving situations. Participants may benefit from new coping tools, and the findings could guide better support for families facing dementia caregiving challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce psychological distress and improve the caregiving relationship, potentially lowering risk for abuse and improving quality of life for both caregivers and people with dementia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows that relationship-focused interventions can reduce conflict; this project tests a novel mechanism to prevent abuse in dementia caregiving.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meyer, Kylie Nicole — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Meyer, Kylie Nicole
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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.