Connection in Caregivers Research Study

Study Basics: Are you 50 years of age or older? Do you experience stress related to caring for a family member with dementia? Do you also sometimes feel isolated or left out or that you lack companionship? If so, you may be able to participate in a research study to help researchers learn how social relationships impact feelings of stress in both positive and negative ways for those caring for somebody with dementia. Participation could last up to 6 months. Compensation provided.

Study Purpose: Our study is trying to discover how social relationships impact feelings of stress in both positive and negative ways for those caring for somebody with dementia. We hope this information will lead to better programs for caregivers.

Could This Study Be Right for You?

• Age 50 and up
• Caring for a family member or friend with dementia
• Experiencing stress related to providing care
• Sometimes feel isolated, left out, or that you lack companionship
• Speak English or Spanish

What Participants Can Expect

• Participation involves completing confidential interviews at study start and 6 months later. You will be asked about your physical, cognitive, and emotional health, and about your social relationships and the care you provide to your family member/friend.
• You will also complete 10 days of surveys on your own. You will get reminders via text or email. You will be asked to complete brief surveys 3 times per day.
• There is no intervention provided, but the study team will offer resources when indicated/desired.

Additional Information

• What is already known about this topic? Providing care for a family member with dementia can lead to increased purpose in life, but also places older adults at risk for declines in mental and physical health as well as increased stress.
• Less is known about the impact of caregiving on social connection and how caregiving may impact how connected caregivers feel to themselves, to family/friends, and their communities. In this study, we want to understand how daily caregiving stressors and benefits impact feelings of connection to others (or feelings of isolation), and how both impact mood and meaning in life.
• This study is funded by the National Institute on Aging

For more information: Call (585) 273-1811 or email HOPE@urmc.rochester.edu.

Personnel

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kim Van Orden

Study Coordinators: April Buttaccio, M.P.H., Ellen Beckwith, B.A., Angie Diaz Mantilla, B.S.