Toolkit to help family caregivers spot and talk about pain in loved ones with dementia
The Pain Identification and Communication Toolkit: A Training Program to Support Family Caregivers of Persons with ADRD
This project teaches family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias how to recognize pain and communicate it to clinicians.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304477 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my loved one has dementia, this program trains family caregivers to notice signs of pain when words are no longer reliable. Caregivers learn a brief observational pain tool, receive coaching on how to talk with healthcare providers about pain, and practice skills through routine exercises. The program is manualized and delivered by a multidisciplinary team with experience in dementia and pain. Participation is expected to include training sessions and using the toolkit during everyday care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are family caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who have difficulty verbally reporting pain.
Not a fit: People who manage their own pain, have mild cognitive impairment with reliable self-report, or lack an involved family caregiver may not benefit from this caregiver-focused approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help caregivers identify and report pain earlier so people with dementia receive more timely and appropriate pain treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Early pilot work by the team showed the approach is feasible and promising for improving caregiver skills, but larger trials are needed to confirm clinical benefits.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riffin, Catherine — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Riffin, Catherine
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.