Would you like to talk about your Alzheimer’s disease or dementia caregiving experience? Researchers from the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC) are conducting a study that will identify the needs and assets of diverse caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD) in northern Arizona.
The multi-disciplinary research team received a one-year, $374,906 administrative supplement grant from the National Institutes of Health to study diverse caregivers of persons with ADRD living in northern Arizona.
Family caregivers provide the bulk of care to individuals with Alzheimer’s and similar conditions. These intense responsibilities cause many caregivers to experience high rates of chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and physical health conditions. The symptoms intensify for caregivers of diverse and rural backgrounds who have fewer means to access health and support resources, according to past research.
To identify caregiver needs, researchers from the study will conduct focus groups and surveys of family caregivers as well as interview policymakers and providers. The research team will also produce a report on the healthcare and social support resources that are available to caregivers in northern Arizona, and participants will receive personalized maps and information on what resources are close to them. In the future, the results will be used to reduce health inequities of American Indian, Latino, and rural caregivers and develop a multi-level understanding of their needs to promote future policies, practices, and research initiatives.
The grant is led by principal investigator Dr. Julie Baldwin, director of the Center of Health Equity Research with co-investigators Dr. Dorothy Dunn, associate professor for the NAU School of Nursing, Dr. Evie Garcia, associate professor for the NAU Department of Educational Psychology, Dr. Michael McCarthy, associate professor for the Department of Social Work, and Dr. Heather Williamson, assistant professor for CHER and the NAU Occupational Therapy department, with the assistance of Rachel Bacon, the project coordinator, and Morgan Regalado Hustead, a doctoral student. The project is funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under grant No. 3U54MD012388-03S1.
If you know of caregivers, providers, or policy makers who might be interested in participating in this study, please contact Rachel Bacon at Rachel.Bacon@nau.edu. The online survey associated with this study is also up and ready. Follow this link to take it now, or share it with a caregiver you know!