April 10, 2025
News
Gitlin and Kales share tips for care partners of people living with dementia in NYT article
IMPACT Implementation Core Leader, Laura Gitlin, PHD, FGSA, FAAN, and IMPACT Pilot Grant Awardee, Helen Kales, MD are quoted in the recent New York Times article, “How to care for a loved one with dementia: 5 Expert Tips,” by Isabelle Taft.
The article highlights the challenges to family members providing care for people living with dementia and tips of support. Dr. Gitlin describes the importance of full disclosure about the course of the disease to help individuals and family caregivers prepare and stresses the need to check in on caregivers. Dr. Kales encourages people living with dementia and their care partners to avoid the temptation for isolation and remain social. Other recommendations in the article include establishing a caregiving team, seeking help from experts, and considering using technology that can help monitor loved ones.
IMPACT community members seek improvements in post-acute care in SNFs
IMPACT community members, Joan Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, Nancy Hodgson, PhD, RN, and Laura Hanson, MD, MPH share the results of their recent pilot pragmatic trial which was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23NR017663 and the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation, New York.
The trial explores the feasibility of implementing a palliative care intervention during post-acute care to improve outcomes and reduce the need for rehospitalizations.
The two-group, multisite feasibility pilot pragmatic clinical trial, which was conducted at 12 SNFs co-located in continuing care retirement communities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States, evaluated the feasibility of implementing the primary palliative care in post-acute care (PPC-PAC) intervention in the post-acute care skilled nursing facility (SNF) setting.
Implementation of the PPC-PAC intervention proved feasible and acceptable among older adults and clinicians. Future research is needed to focus on testing the effectiveness of PPC-PAC and explore strategies for optimal intervention implementation and SNF staff engagement.
Read the full article here.
Niznik Featured in The Washington Post on Sleep Aids and Dementia Risk
Joshua Niznik, PharmD, PhD, IMPACT Patient and Caregiver Relevant Outcomes (PCRO) Core member and Assistant Professor at The University of North Carolina School of Medicine, shared insights with The Washington Post about the complex relationship between sleep aids and dementia risk. Dr. Niznik’s perspective highlights the need for careful consideration when using these medications, particularly in relation to cognitive health.
Read the full article at https://wapo.st/4jQLcAO
