Training to improve care for people with Alzheimer's in assisted living
Evaluating a National Person-Centered Training Program to Strengthen the Dementia Care Workforce
This project offers online, person-centered training to help assisted-living staff provide better care for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137687 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I or a loved one lives with dementia in assisted living, this project trains the staff who care for us using online, self-paced modules and certification focused on person-centered care. The program is being spread across assisted living communities so staff can learn practical skills for daily care, communication, and safety. Researchers will track staff knowledge, workplace outcomes like turnover, and resident outcomes such as behavior, comfort, and family satisfaction to see whether care improves. The training is designed to be low-cost and accessible so many facilities can adopt it.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who reside in assisted living communities and their families who want improved care practices.
Not a fit: People living at home without assisted-living staff support or those in nursing homes with different staffing and clinical models may not see direct benefits from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lead to better day-to-day care, fewer distressing behaviors, and improved quality of life for people with dementia in assisted living.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller training programs have improved staff knowledge and some resident outcomes, but large-scale national online training in assisted living remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zimmerman, Sheryl — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Zimmerman, Sheryl
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.