CEAL@UNC is dedicated to promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and disseminating and translating research findings to providers, policy makers, and consumers. This page includes research projects currently being conducted by CEAL@UNC affiliates across the country. If you are interested in learning more about any of these projects, contact us for more information.
The National Dementia Workforce Study
Principal Investigator: Donovan Maust, MD, MS and Joanne Spetz, PhD
Institution: University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: In a U54 Cooperative Agreement, launch a family of four nationally representative professional dementia workforce surveys covering the key care delivery settings in the U.S. – including assisted living — to build a data infrastructure about the workforce and associated outcomes for persons living with dementia, and promote widespread use of the National Dementia Workforce Study data infrastructure.
Project Timeline: September 2023 – August 2028
Project Website: https://www.ndws.org/
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: See project website for details.
Preparing Assisted Living Staff to Care for Persons with Dementia: Palliative Care Education in Assisted Living (PCEAL) for Dementia Care Providers
Principal Investigator: Debra Dobbs, PhD
Institution: University of South Florida
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: In an R01 cluster randomized trial, test the effectiveness of an evidence-based palliative care education program for staff in assisted living in a sample of 30 ALs in Florida on improving documentation of advance care planning discussions (primary aim) and increase staff self-efficacy in providing palliative care for persons with dementia; explore the feasibility of collecting family satisfaction with care survey data.
Project Timeline: September 2024 – August 2027
Project Website: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/aging-studies/pceal_lab/projects.aspx
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: Opportunity for Florida area assisted living communities to participate.
Evaluating a National Person-Centered Training Program to Strengthen the Dementia Care Workforce
Principal Investigator: Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: In an R01 randomized controlled trial in 126 assisted living communities, examine implementation and staff and resident outcomes of two dementia care training programs (the Alzheimer’s Association® online essentiALZ® program, alone and in combination with Project ECHO, a virtual case-based learning program).
Project Timeline: August 2022 – August 2027
Project Website: https://tarheels.live/dementiacaretrainingal/
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: Assisted living providers who are interested in enrolling their communities in this project are welcome to contact the study team.
Memory Care in Assisted Living: Does it Improve Quality Outcomes?
Principal Investigator: Kali Thomas, PhD and Eric Jutkowitz, PhD
Institution: Johns Hopkins University and Brown University
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the primary aim of this R01 study is to examine the variation in the quality of care of assisted living residents with ADRD who reside in communities that do and do not provide memory care.
Project Timeline: September 2023 – August 2027
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: Assisted living communities in states where memory care is and is not licensed that may be interested in participating in site visits and semi-structured interviews are invited to reach out to study staff.
Private Equity Expansion in Assisted Living: Implications for Dementia Care
Principal Investigator: Kali Thomas, PhD and Momotazur Rahman, PhD
Institution: Johns Hopkins University and Brown University
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the primary aim of this R01 study is to provide critical information about private equity firms’ acquisitions of assisted living, and the impact of these acquisitions on older adults needing long-term care in these settings, including the growing population with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).
Project Timeline: September 2023 – August 2027
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: Assisted living stakeholders, policy makers, and private equity investors are invited to reach out to study staff if they are interested in sharing their perspectives of private equity investment in assisted living.
A Pragmatic Crossover Trial to Test the Effectiveness of a Novel Lighting System to Reduce Nighttime Falls in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Principal Investigator: Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: In an R01 randomized controlled trial in 42 assisted living communities, determine the extent to which a novel lighting system is effective in preventing nighttime falls for residents living with dementia.
Project Timeline: July 2022 – June 2026
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: Assisted living providers in the eastern United States who are interested in enrolling their communities in this project are welcome to contact the study team.
Holistic Evaluation to Advance Research in Dementia (HEARD): Phased Interdisciplinary Infrastructure Development
Principal Investigator: Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: In an R33 measurement development study, evaluate two new measures developed in an R21 project using principles of human-centered design (i.e., a process measure of living well with dementia and an outcome measure of the quality of day) in community-based settings, assisted living, and nursing homes.
Project Timeline: September 2023 – May 2026
Opportunities for Collaboration/Involvement: Long-term care providers who are interested in enrolling their communities in this project are welcome to contact the study team.
North Carolina Adult Care Home Accreditation Pilot Program
Principal Investigator: Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Funder: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Primary Aim: In a randomized statewide quality improvement project of accreditation in assisted living, determine the extent to which care and outcomes differ between communities that are and are not accredited.
Project Timeline: January 2022 – October 2025
Project Website: ncassistedlivingproject.org
Using the Low Income Housing Tax Credit for Assisted Living? Mapping the Current Environment and Charting a Path Forward
Principal Investigator: Craig Pollack, MD, and Kali Thomas, PhD
Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Funder: Johns Hopkins Discovery Award and Hopkins Business of Health Initiative
Primary Aim: The goal of this project is to better understand how affordable housing financing, primarily the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), can better support affordable assisted living development, which is being studied through a novel data linkage to identify LIHTC-funded assisted living communities and a series of key informant interviews.
Project Timeline: July 2024 – June 2025
Opportunities for Involvement: Assisted living providers, state agents, and housing developers are invited to share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of expanding access to affordable assisted living through LIHTC-funded projects.
Adapting an Evidence-Based Program that Improves Oral Hygiene and Health for Assisted Living Residents with Dementia
Principal Investigator: Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Primary Aim: In an R01 randomized controlled trial among assisted living residents with dementia, determine the extent to which training direct care staff in oral hygiene (daily tooth brushing) improves oral hygiene outcomes.
Project Timeline: September 2018 – May 2025
