Web program to help caregivers safely feed loved ones with dementia who have trouble swallowing
Reducing Burden in Care Partners of Community-Dwelling Persons with Dementia and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
A web-based program to teach family caregivers how to manage swallowing problems and reduce the stress of feeding a loved one with Alzheimer’s or related dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11388276 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I care for someone with Alzheimer’s who developed swallowing problems in the hospital, this project will adapt a web tool with written lessons, videos, caregiver testimonials, and FAQs to teach practical feeding and coping skills. The team will pilot the tool, refine it using caregiver feedback, and then run a 24-month randomized comparison against usual support to measure effects on caregiver burden. Content focuses on safe feeding techniques, handling refusals or frustration, meal planning for quality of life, and building caregiver competence. The program is designed for use on a phone or computer and may combine remote sessions with any required in-person visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Family or unpaid care partners of community-dwelling people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who were diagnosed with oropharyngeal dysphagia during a hospital stay and who can use a web-based program are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People who do not provide direct care to someone with dementia-related swallowing problems, those without reliable internet or digital access, or patients in advanced hospice are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower caregiver stress and improve feeding skills and quality of life for both caregivers and the person with dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Other caregiver education and telehealth programs have improved caregiver confidence and outcomes, but web tools specifically focused on feeding and dysphagia in dementia are relatively new and less well tested.
Where this research is happening
Manhasset, United States
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research — Manhasset, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sinvani, Liron Danay — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Sinvani, Liron Danay
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.