Dr. Kiselica is an assistant professor of health psychology and a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Missouri. Dr. Kiselica’s work includes direct clinical service, teaching/training, and research. He runs a neuropsychological assessment service focused on evaluation of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. In addition, he is a supervisor for the department’s clinical neuropsychology internship training program. Dr. Kiselica also directs the Clinical Evaluation and Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ClEaR-ADRD) lab. Research in the lab focuses on three areas: 1) developing and validating advanced techniques for early detection of ADRD symptoms; 2) improving understanding of the relationship between stress and cognitive decline; and 3) examining how assistive technologies can improve the lives of older adults, people living with dementia, and care partners.
There is agreement among people living with dementia (PLWD), care partners, and healthcare professionals that maintaining independence and minimizing “burden” on friends and family members are two of the most important dementia care goals. Assistive technologies have great potential to help PLWD and their care partners reach these goals; however, there are few evidence-based programs to expand and maintain assistive technology use. We developed the Technology Assistance in Dementia (Tech-AiD) program to meet this need and will optimize Tech-AiD in this Career Development Award. This award will also provide training to improve Dr. Kiselica’s clinical trial research skills, build competence in behavioral intervention delivery and embedded pragmatic clinical trials, and enhance his grantsmanship abilities to prepare him to lead technology-focused intervention research with PLWD and their care partners. This training will support the following Specific Aims: (1) To develop the intervention protocol for Tech-AiD; (2) To establish a stakeholder advisory panel for Tech-AiD; and (3) To develop an outcome measure of assistive technology use in dementia care. This work will lay the foundation for a rigorous randomized controlled efficacy trial of the Tech-AiD program to improve care of PLWD and their care partners.