Strengthening Bonds: A telephone reminiscence program to reduce loneliness in rural older adults
Official title: Strengthening Bonds: A Telephone Reminiscence Intervention to Reduce Social Isolation and Improve Mental Health in Rural Older Adults
Funded at Storii, INC. · NIH-11419818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A phone-based program helps rural adults 21+ stay socially connected and improve mental health with guided conversations about their life memories.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Storii, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Mateo, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $943,464 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG097382-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older in rural areas who have limited access to digital health resources and experience loneliness or social isolation.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience noticeable mood changes or may prefer non-telephone approaches.
What this research studies
This project tests Storii, a telephone reminiscence service, to see if structured phone conversations with caring prompts can reduce loneliness and improve mental well-being for older adults in rural areas. It uses accessible landline or mobile calls to reach people who may have limited internet access, combining reminiscence with social interaction. The study is designed as a Phase II trial to assess whether the program can be feasibly delivered in rural settings and whether participants report better mood and less isolation after the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could provide a scalable, low-tech way to reduce loneliness and improve mental health for rural seniors.
How similar studies have gone: Telephone-based reminiscence and social support approaches have shown potential benefits in some populations, but this exact rural older adult application is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Storii, INC.
San Mateo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Graham, Cameron — Storii, INC.
- Study coordinator: Graham, Cameron
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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.