Dementia Care Research

Helping Caregivers Learn and Apply Effective Care Strategies

Family caregivers of people living with dementia often face challenging situations and must learn new strategies to support their loved ones. Our lab develops and evaluates educational interventions designed to help caregivers acquire, retain, and apply information that is relevant to their caregiving needs.

Our approach draws on research in cognitive psychology and the science of learning. We use strategies such as retrieval practice, spaced learning, and feedback to help caregivers remember important information over time. We also personalize educational content so that caregivers can focus on the challenges most relevant to their daily lives.

Current Research

Our research examines how personalized education can improve caregivers’ knowledge, confidence, and well-being. In one project, supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund, we evaluated an educational intervention that helps caregivers learn strategies for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

We are also developing and pilot testing an AI-supported educational chatbot that can tailor information, practice questions, and feedback to individual caregivers’ needs. This work builds on our existing research and explores how technology can make caregiver education more personalized and accessible.

Community Engagement

Our students play an important role in this research, contributing to study development, data collection, and community outreach. We work to connect with caregivers and local organizations so that our research addresses the challenges families encounter in everyday life.

Our lab also participates in community events, including the Coastal Virginia Walk to End Alzheimer’s, to support families affected by dementia and connect with others working to improve dementia care.