Peer support program helping Black families caring for loved ones with dementia
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Peer Support for Family Caregivers of Black Older Adults Living with Dementia (Pair 2 Care)
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11446466 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A family caregiver support program led by peers helps Black families caring for older relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, delivered virtually.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $797,840 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG097585-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446466 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Black families caring for an older relative diagnosed with AD or ADRD and who can participate in virtual meetings.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who do not engage with the program or whose relative’s condition is advanced or unstable may derive less direct benefit.
What this research studies
Black family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias face high stress and health risks. This project tests a culturally tailored, virtual peer-support program (Pair 2 Care) to provide mentorship from former caregivers and improve caregiver well-being. The study builds on input from Black caregivers and community partners to ensure relevance and acceptability, and uses a randomized design to compare the peer-support program to a control condition over six months. If successful, the approach could offer a scalable, culturally aligned resource to reduce caregiver burden and improve planning and care for families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, caregivers may experience less stress and better health management, with improved care for their loved ones.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed high feasibility and satisfaction, suggesting potential for benefit in similar caregiver support programs.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moss, Karen Olivia — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Moss, Karen Olivia
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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.