The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias is growing, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. By 2050, these illnesses are projected to affect nearly 13 million Americans aged 65 or older, and the number of family members and friends who provide unpaid care for them will also grow.
To empower informal caregivers, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) has awarded a $5.8 million, five-year P30 grant renewal to the Roybal Center for Dementia Caregiving Mastery of the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Co-directed by Hepburn and Emory School of Medicine Professor Molly Perkins, PhD, the Center will continue supporting investigators at Emory and across the U.S. to develop and test behavioral intervention research that is designed to enhance the role mastery of family members and friends who care for persons living with dementia illnesses.
Building on the successes of its first research cycle, the Center is conducting two clinical trials in the next two years, which are already in development. One trial is focusing on the culturally grounded challenges faced by Latino caregivers, and the second trial centers on strategies for caregivers whose person just received a definitive diagnosis of a dementia illness. The Center also recently launched a national Caregiver Research Interest Group that provides a platform for early-stage researchers to engage in meaningful conversations about behavioral interventions.
To learn more about the Emory Roybal Center for Dementia Caregiving Mastery and its funded projects and outcomes, visit emorycaregiving.org.
This research is supported by the NIA of the National Institutes of Health under award number P30AG064200. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
As one of the nation’s top nursing schools, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University is committed to educating visionary nurse leaders and scholars. Home to the No. 1 master’s, No. 1 BSN and No. 6 DNP programs nationwide, the school offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and non-degree programs, bringing together cutting-edge resources, distinguished faculty, top clinical experiences and access to leading health care partners to shape the future of nursing and impact the world’s health and well-being. Learn more at nursing.emory.edu.