What is this Study about?

Have you ever wondered how people feel and think about caregiving for older adults? Our study explores these beliefs and attitudes about unpaid (informal) caregiving for older adults in Canada. Participants will answer questions in an Online Survey that takes approximately 30 minutes.

The data will be analyzed and published in aggregated forms of anonymized data. The findings will help to understand and highlight the Canadian society’s beliefs and attitudes about informal care for older adults and provide a new basis for improving support for caregivers and the people they care for.

What is this Study about?

The goal of this study is to explore the experiences of caregivers who are managing both their caregiving responsibilities and their own health needs, in order to better understand the challenges they face and to identify ways to improve support for them. The findings of this study are expected to help inform policy formation, intervention planning and design that addresses the unique needs of ill-caregivers. The knowledge generated through this study will enhance caregivers’ capacity and sustainability, thereby supporting their ability to deliver high-quality care to older adults while maintaining their essential role within the healthcare system.

What is this Study about?

We are inviting caregivers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and Alzheimer’s societies to take part in a research study focused on improving support for people caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Compassionate palliative care is essential for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. However, many families living in rural settings cannot access palliative care unless it is through virtual methods. This study aims to address these challenges by involving caregivers and healthcare professionals to co-design virtual palliative care support.

What is this Study about?

In Canada, 61% of people living with dementia (Plwd) live at home, with 87% of those living with an informal caregiver. Compared to caregivers of other older adults without dementia, caregivers of Plwd report higher levels of stress. However, interventions addressing caregiver stress directly have not been very effective. Newer research focuses on resilience, defined as a trajectory in which an individual can not only adapt but enhance and grow in challenging circumstances.

This research addresses several questions. We will investigate what resilience looks like for informal caregivers of Plwd, and what behaviours lead to and promote resiliency. We will also examine what the role of environmental (e.g., living arrangements) and individual (e.g., personality) factors are on caregiver resiliency . These studies will determine what factors influence a caregiver’s ability to participate in behaviours that promote resiliency.

I will form a caregiver research partner team who will participate in further developing research questions for a large-scale online survey study (200-250 people). Choice of survey measures will be guided by both existing research and research partners.

The results of this research will reveal what behaviours allow caregivers of Plwd to engage in resiliency .For example, maybe it may be the case that taking time for self-reflection allows for caregivers to be ‘resilient’, meaning they are able to grow and thrive, and don’t experience high levels of stress. Knowing these behaviours and strategies, as well as the role of environmental factors, will empower caregivers to
move towards resilience and decrease stress.

What is this Study about?

Help Us Improve Support for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

We are inviting caregivers, healthcare providers, community organizations, and Alzheimer’s societies to take part in a research study focused on improving support for people caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

What is this study about?
We know that caregiving is a journey that changes over time, but many caregivers don’t have access to tools or services that meet their evolving needs. This study aims to change that by bringing together caregivers and professionals to co-create practical resources and tools that support caregivers through each stage of the disease.

What will participation involve?
Participation will mostly take place virtually and includes online surveys, focus groups, and/or one-on-one interviews through secure platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. You’ll be asked about your experiences with caregiving and the services available to you. Later, we’ll host in-person co-design sessions to work together on building useful tools and guidance for caregivers.

Why join?
By participating, you’ll have the chance to reflect on your experience, identify gaps in current services, and help shape resources that better support caregivers like you. You may also learn about services you didn’t know existed. Your input will directly inform more responsive and timely support for caregivers and people living with Alzheimer’s.

What is this Study about?

This study aims to evaluate the acceptance and usability of the GuardIO Family Care app, a mobile application designed to support community safety for individuals living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and their care partners. The study also aims to analyze mobility patterns collected from the app to explore how mobility data can contribute to the early detection of cognitive impairment. The findings will help improve app design, inform care strategies, and support early intervention efforts for individuals living with dementia or MCI.

What is this Study about?

Behavioral and emotional changes often accompany dementia and are a leading cause of long-term care placement, even more so than cognitive decline. This study is the first to explore how family caregivers make treatment decisions in response to these emotional and behavioural symptoms. We are interested in understanding whether caregivers turn to medications, consider non-pharmacological strategies such as environmental modifications, or use a combination of both. Using a quantitative behavioural economics model, this study will examine how caregivers weigh the risks and benefits of different treatment options. We are particularly interested in decision-making related to dopaminergic medications (formerly known as “antipsychotics”), which are commonly prescribed despite known risks for people with dementia. The information gathered will help guide the development of resources to better support family caregivers in navigating treatment decisions. Participation involves completing an anonymous online survey and is open to family caregivers involved in medical decision-making for a relative or close friend with dementia.

What is this Study about?

Participants will take part in a one-on-one interview (in person or online) to share thoughts on reminders and changes in behavior that should be tracked by the system. Interviews will last about 60 minutes. A short follow-up (20 minutes or less) may also be requested later to provide extra feedback on the system’s design.

What is this Study about?

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of CARES-D for physiotherapists on learner knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia. We will administer online questionnaires to practicing rehabilitation professionals in Canada who work with individuals with dementia to: 1) Assess changes in rehabilitation professionals' knowledge about dementia; 2) Evaluate shifts in attitudes toward individuals with dementia; 3) Measure improvements in confidence in managing dementia care; 4) Gather participant feedback on the CARES-D training program; 5) Compare pre- and post-training outcomes to determine the program's effectiveness.