Savvy Caregiver Peer Program to help American Indian dementia caregivers
Official title: Enhancing American Indian Caregiver Mastery through a Savvy Caregiver Peer Program
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11477749 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A caregiver-focused program in American Indian communities adds peer-led, culturally respectful support to help family members caring for someone with dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $646,926 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG082074-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11477749 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Family members or informal caregivers of people living with dementia who are American Indian and enrolled members of the White Earth Nation (or similar communities) and who are participating in the program.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who are not involved in dementia care or who cannot participate in group sessions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts a proven caregiver education program for American Indian families, using a peer-based circle format to reduce isolation and burden. It combines structured sessions with home activities in six weekly meetings to boost skills and confidence in dementia care. The approach is grounded in Stress Mediation and Social Cognitive Theories and engages community members as peers to facilitate cultural relevance and trust.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, caregivers may feel less isolated and better equipped to manage dementia-related challenges at home.
How similar studies have gone: Previous Savvy Caregiver programs have shown improvements in caregiver knowledge and coping, with stronger effects when culturally tailored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Jordan Paul — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Jordan Paul
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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.