The Family Caregiving Translational Science Lab conducts research to better support family caregivers to persons living with chronic and disabling conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. We develop and test interventions to make programs accessible and acceptable to family caregivers, and so they can be feasibly delivered in health and community settings. Our current research encompasses programs to support high-quality care by family members, as well as programs to reduce financial strain.
Featured Projects
If you would like to find out more about any of the featured research programs, please email knm77@case.edu or call 216-369-1928.
Learning Skills Together
Family caregivers are often asked to conduct complex medical and nursing tasks, such as managing medications, assisting with transfers, and preparing special diets for their family members. Learning Skills Together is a 6-week, Zoom-delivered program developed to prepare family caregivers to provide complex care to their family members living with dementia.
Status: Check back soon if you would like to participate in this study!
CONFIDENCE Financial Education Program
CONFIDENCE is a 5-week course to help family caregivers reduce financial strain and lower the out-of-pocket costs of caregiving. During the program, caregivers learn about how to navigate community and other resources that may displace some out-of-pocket costs. CONFIDENCE is tailored to Latino and Hispanic family caregivers.
Status: CONFIDENCE is currently being delivered by the University of Southern California Family Caregiver Support Center in English and Spanish. Caregivers may join this program whether they choose to participate in the research study or not. To register for an upcoming session, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/usc-family-caregiver-support-program-41865278813
Caregiving Advisory Council
The Caregiver Advisory Council meets monthly to discuss programs and research at the Family Caregiving Translational Science Lab. Members include family caregivers to persons living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. The Advisory Council ensures interventions and research is responsive to the needs and preferences of caregivers.
Status: We are currently seeking new Council members!
Knowledge and Interpersonal Skills to Develop Exemplary Relationships (KINDER)
Family caregiving and the onset of dementia contribute to multiple changes in family relationships, which can sometimes lead to feelings of relationship strain. KINDER is a 9-week psychoeducational program to support healthy family caregiving relationships and high-quality care among family caregivers to persons living with dementia.
Status: We will be enrolling new participants in KINDER in Spring 2022. Please check back soon for more information!
The KINDER program is open to enrollment. Caregivers may join this program whether they choose to participate in the research study or not. To register for an upcoming session, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/case-western-reserve-university-kylie-meyer-phd-60680076883
Kylie Meyer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Email: knm77@case.edu
Kylie Meyer, PhD, is a Gerontologist and Assistant Professor at the Case Western Reserve University. Her program of research focuses on psychoeducational interventions to support family caregivers in multiple domains, such as complex medical/nursing care, healthy caregiving relationships, and financial well-being. She is dedicated to research translation to ensure innovations reach caregiving families, particularly those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. She does this by integrating basic research, theory, stakeholder input, and knowledge of the health policy systems. She is a 2022 to 2023 National Institute on Aging IMPACT Collaboratory Faculty Scholar. In 2020 to 2022 she completed a Translational Science Training TL1 Fellowship at UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Meyer employs both qualitative and quantitative methods in her research. In 2014, she was the recipient of a US-UK Fulbright award, an experience that contributed to her dedication to advancing knowledge and evidence-based policies that support person- and family-centered care. In 2018, she played an integral role in delivering policy recommendations to the California State Legislature to better support caregiving families.
Patricia Burant, Ed.D.
Project Manager
Email: pab75@case.edu
Kyungmi Lee, PhD, RN
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: kxl916@case.edu
Atiya Kuwehan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email: akk76@case.edu
Katherine Shi
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email: kms334@case.edu
Rocio Aguíla Rodriguez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
David Silva
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Vanessa Rodriguez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Donna Benton, PhD
Director, University of Southern California Family Caregiver Support Center
Associate Research Professor, University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Alexander Gonzales, BSG
Project Specialist, University of Southern California Family Caregiver Support Center
Susanna Mage PhD(c)
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Jeanine Yonashiro-Cho, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
Jaclene Zauszniewski, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN
Catherine Seibyl Professor in Nursing, Research and Caregiving, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing