Our research is focused on supporting quality of life among older adults living with a chronic illness or disability, such as Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, as well as caregivers. Our research often focuses on social wellness, including social support, engagement, and function to improve quality of life and prevent loneliness among older adults living with a physical and cognitive condition that affects their functional ability.
Promoting the health of caregivers and their loved ones is advanced through our research in the communities we serve.
Topics addressed in our research include:
- Active aging and active living
- Complex skills care
- Health promotion intervention
- Lifestyle behaviors
- Palliative care
- Social support and basic clinical behavioral
Daily Study of Caregiving Relationships and Health
Primary Investigator, Carol White, PhD, RN, FAAN
Goal: The purpose of this project is to examine the association between caregiving relationships, biomarkers of health, and depression and examine how these change over short periods of time.
Sponsor: UT Health San Antonio, Nursing Advisory Council, School of Nursing
The relationships between lifestyle behaviors and renal metabolomics in overweight and obese older adults with type 2 diabetes
Primary Investigator, Yan Du, PhD, MPH, RN
Goal: This pilot longitudinal observational study is: 1) to assess the feasibility in recruitment, retention, and data collection in older adults with T2D using digital health technologies and urine samples, and 2) to examine the relationships between lifestyle behaviors (diet and exercise recorded by mobile health devices) and renal metabolomics in overweight/obese older adults
Sponsor: Cols. Philip & Jean Piccione Award
Community of Dementia Excellence: Successfully Aging and Living in San Antonio
Primary Investigator, Carol White, PhD, RN, FAAN
Goal: The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the dementia capable system within the San Antonio community.
Sponsor: Wellmed Charitable Foundation
Effect of Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention on Frailty in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study
Primary Investigator, Rozmin Jiwani, PhD, RN
Goal: The goal of this project is to acquire research experience in behavioral lifestyle research among adults, to prevent or delay the onset of frailty, and to gain experience conducting clinical studies in older adults.
Sponsor: Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center; RL5 award
A Stakeholder Alliance for Better Palliative Care for People with Dementia and their Family Caregivers
Primary Investigator, Carol White, PhD, RN, FAAN
Goal: The overall objective is to build a sustainable alliance of key stakeholders who are engaged in the development, execution, and dissemination of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) for better palliative care for persons living with dementia and their families. We have received COVID-19 Enhancement Funding (June 2020) to examine the impact of COVID-19 on dementia care from the multi-stakeholder perspective.
Sponsor: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute