# EXTENDING INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR DEMENTIA THROUGH TELEHEALTH PROGRAM DELIVERY

> **NIH NIH R44** · TOGETHER SENIOR HEALTH, INC. · 2021 · $1,003,374

## Abstract

Mission Statement: Together Senior Health, Inc. (TOGETHER), is committed to helping people living with
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) and their caregivers maximize quality of life by delivering
livestreaming, evidence-based, virtual group programs to them in their homes. Significance: There are
currently 5.8 million people in the U.S. living with ADRD and more than 16 million unpaid caregivers. Current
ADRD medications help with some symptoms but do not change the disease course and are often stopped
due to side effects. In addition, most evidence-based behavioral interventions—such as our in-person Moving
Together program—are not widely available to people in their local communities. Innovation: TOGETHER is
bridging this gap by using human centered design principles—in which the user is involved with all phases of
design and testing—to develop and test an innovative, user-friendly platform for delivering livestreaming virtual
group programs to people with ADRD and caregivers in their homes. Investigators: TOGETHER’s CEO and
PI of this application has expertise in human centered design and successfully led our Phase I Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. Coinvestigators and consultants bring expertise in clinical trials, integrative
health, behavioral psychology, geriatrics, qualitative methods, technology and education. Approach: Phase I
Progress. Our Phase I SBIR enabled us to develop and demonstrate proof-of-concept for our unique approach
to livestreaming virtual group program delivery. We have completed or exceeded all of our milestones, which
included: 1) creating the platform in partnership with graduates of our in-person program; 2) pilot-testing the
platform in a naïve group of users and 3) refining the platform in preparation for Phase II. The response has
been exceptional, with participants highlighting many physical, social, emotional, and logistical benefits. Phase
II Aims: The primary goals of this SBIR Phase II grant are to: 1) determine whether livestreaming virtual group
delivery of the Moving Together program improves quality of life in people with mild ADRD and caregivers,
including exploration of potential mechanisms of action; 2) refine the platform for people with mild cognitive
impairment to expand our target audience; and 3) develop an instructor training program to meet the needs of
a larger client base. Environment: TOGETHER’S corporate office is in San Francisco, which offers a rich
environment for developing and testing innovative technology-based solutions to challenging social problems
and is enhanced by involvement of investigators at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and San
Francisco VA. Commercialization Plan: After completion of Phase II, we will be prepared to commercialize
TOGETHER’s telehealth platform, initially using a client pay model, with clear plans for growth and expansion.
Summary: TOGETHER’s innovative approach to livestreaming virtual group delivery of ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10204865
- **Project number:** 6R44AG059520-03
- **Recipient organization:** TOGETHER SENIOR HEALTH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Deborah E. Barnes
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,003,374
- **Award type:** 6
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10204865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10204865, EXTENDING INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR DEMENTIA THROUGH TELEHEALTH PROGRAM DELIVERY (6R44AG059520-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10204865. Licensed CC0.

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