Projects
Siblings Caring for Parents with Dementia
Dr. Gilligan is the Principal Investigator of the Siblings Caring for Parents with Dementia project. Most of the previous work on family caregiving has focused on a single primary caregiver but caregiving is often a “family affair” that involves multiple family members. Family members can be both a source of support and stress to each other during caregiving. The Siblings Caring for Parents with Dementia Study is currently recruiting two adult children within the same family to discuss their unique experiences of providing care to an older parent with ADRD. This study is designed to be low maintenance and all data collection can take place within your own home. Participants will engage in a conversation using Zoom, complete 3 online surveys and also self-collect hair and saliva samples.
Acknowledgements: This project is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (K01 AG061260-01).
Within-Family Differences Study (WFDS)
The Within-Family Differences Study (WFDS) is a mixed-method longitudinal project focused on understanding the relationship between parents and their adult children, and the ways in which these ties affect the well-being of both generations. Our goals are to contribute to the scientific study of intergenerational relationships and provide a basis for the development of strategies for practitioners to employ when working with later-life families. Dr. Gilligan is the Co-Investigator on the WFDS-III and Co-PI on the WFDS-B Study. For more information, visit the WFDS website.
Acknowledgements: We wish to express our appreciation for the support we have received for the WFDS. From 2001-2014 and in 2019-2020, the project has been supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (RO1 AG18869-01; 2RO1 AG18869; 1R56AG062767-01). We also express appreciation to the Office of the Vice President for Research at Purdue University for support during the 2014-2015 academic year, and to the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and the Office of the Provost at Purdue for funding the WFDEP Feasibility Study in 2017. Jill Suitor and Megan Gilligan also wish to acknowledge support from the Center on Aging and the Life Course at Purdue University.
