What is this Study about?

This is an 8-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the feasibility and efficacy of an online mindfulness based mental health intervention for primary caregivers of individuals with dementia. The participants will be randomized into two groups: The Mind-AID Program: An online, mindfulness-based intervention focused on reducing repetitive negative thoughts and improving psychological well-being. The Educational Workshop for Caregivers (Control Group): A series of online educational resources providing valuable information and strategies for managing the caregiving role.

What is this Study about?

McMaster University is conducting a study on the effects of brain stimulation in individuals aged 50 and older with dementia or memory loss. The research focuses on using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive technique that delivers magnetic pulses to the brain, to enhance cognitive function and balance. The goal is to extend the positive effects of brain stimulation in improving cognition and balance in individuals with dementia.

What is this Study about?

This research study focuses on resilience, defined as a trajectory in which an individual can not only adapt but enhance and grow in challenging circumstances. This research aims to: 1) explore resilience-related behaviours in the context of informal Plwd caregiving by examining which behaviours are related to resiliency and how these behaviours are meaningful to caregivers and 2) determine the role of environmental and individual factors in resiliency of caregivers of Plwd. I gave begun the first part of this study, will involved forming a caregiver research partner team to help to identify potential behaviours, characteristics and resources that promote resiliency in caregivers. They have worked with me in further developing research questions and methodology for a large-scale survey study, which I am recruiting for now. Choice of survey measures will be guided by both previous literature and research partner input. This research also includes a cognitive component in order to ascertain the role of cognitive abilities in resiliency. The results of this research will assist in determining the most appropriate social and community supports for caregivers of Plwd and the individual, cognitive, psychological, and social factors that need to be considered when determining suitability between specific supports and individual caregivers. Improving supports for caregivers will improve both caregiver and PlwD health and well-being, and allow Plwd to live at home for longer.

What is this Study about?

This study is part of a cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) research program that seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of CBT in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) in mid-to-late life, especially as MDD is a key risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. As inflammation has recently been linked to MDD, and CBT has been demonstrated to reduce inflammation, this study also aims to understand the role of inflammation in MDD severity and in the likelihood of response to CBT.

What is this Study about?

This study explores the experiences of family and friends of long-term care residents. It focuses on how they experience stress, burden, and mental health challenges, and how a single-session online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or educational materials may help. We will use the information gathered from questionnaires and interventions to understand the effectiveness of these supports and to develop recommendations for improving resources, strategies, and interventions to better meet the needs of family and friends, helping them manage stress and maintain wellbeing while caring for someone in long-term care.

What is this Study about?

This study explores the experience of family and friend caregivers when they are supporting a person living with dementia to discharge from hospital including the emergency room. It focuses on how caregivers experience discharge planning processes and policies, how their perspectives and needs are considered at this key time, and the impacts upon the person they care for and themself in the 6 months after a hospital stay. We will used findings to develop recommendations to improve understanding of the role, needs and rights of caregivers as they care for people who live with dementia in the community.

What is this Study about?

This study explores how adult day programs affect the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers across several Canadian regions. Over time, we gather information about health, well-being, daily experiences, and quality of life of people living with dementia who attend day program and their caregivers. We also aim to learn about day programs themselves, such as their activities, staffing, challenges, and successes. By combining surveys, interviews, and focus groups, our program of research aims to understand what makes day programs helpful, where challenges exist, and how day program can better support families, and people who use them.

What is this Study about?

The objective of this study is to better understand caregivers’ perspectives regarding the pharmacological management of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). While current recommendations are largely based on the opinions of healthcare professionals and experts, the viewpoint of caregivers remains underexplored. By better understanding their experience, we hope to contribute to improved guidelines and care for individuals with neurocognitive disorders. 

What is this Study about?

Assistive technology products are things that help you function or carry out activities more easily by yourself. Products could be any devices, equipment, instruments, or software. Examples could be mobile phone apps that provide calendar reminders, switches that turn off stoves, or walkers.

Assistive technology services are activities or resources that help you to use or maintain assistive technology products. Services refer to assessment, training, and maintenance that help with choosing, using, and repairing assistive technology products.

Getting these products and services means having to contact different organizations. If these products and services could be bundled as one unit, it may help persons with dementia get them more easily and potentially reduce costs. Right now, policymakers need more information about providing assistive technologies as bundles.

The purpose of the study is to learn about your experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles.

For persons with dementia: We would like to interview you now to understand your past and current experiences. We would also like to interview you each year for up to three years (for three interviews) to see how your experiences change over time. You may leave at any time.

For care partners: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles. If interested, you may also take part in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.

For healthcare providers: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with assisting persons with dementia and care partners to access and use products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles and how delivery may be improved. If interested, you may also take part 6 / 10 in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after completing the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.