Web program to help caregivers safely feed loved ones with dementia who have trouble swallowing
Official title: Reducing Burden in Care Partners of Community-Dwelling Persons with Dementia and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11388276 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $537,008 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AG079930-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388276 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Reducing Burden for Care Partners of People with Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias
This project tests a user-friendly Web tool to help care partners of people with dementia manage oropharyngeal dysphagia and reduce daily caregiving burden.
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Helping caregivers of people with dementia who have swallowing difficulties
This study is creating a helpful online tool for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related conditions who have trouble swallowing, so they can get the support and resources they need to make mealtime easier and improve everyone's quality of life.
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Improving support for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients with swallowing difficulties
This study is creating a helpful program for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and related dementias who have trouble swallowing, so they can get the support and training they need to manage these challenges better.
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Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
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Dementia care staff study: adapting a US survey for use in many countries
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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.