# Development of an Intervention for Long-Distance Caregivers

> **NIH NIH R21** · LEADINGAGE, INC. · 2022 · $244,035

## Abstract

Project Summary
Prior caregiving research has mostly focused on geographically close caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), not considering the unique circumstances of long-distance
caregivers (LDCs). However, from our previously funded R21 on long-distance caregiving (LDC; NIA; R21-
AG050018) we know that a large proportion of LDCs helped care recipients (CRs) with significant cognitive
impairment who were community-dwelling and that these LDCs experienced significant caregiver burden. Hence,
there is a need to develop psycho-social interventions that can meet the specific needs of LDCs. This R21
application in response to PAR-19-071 seeks to draw on the knowledge gained in our previous R21 study to
adapt an existing evidence-based caregiver intervention (Community REACH) to the needs and circumstances
of LDCs and to test the feasibility of implementing such an adapted model in the field. Following the NIH Stage
Model for Behavioral Intervention Development, the first objective of this application is to develop a novel
technology-based, remotely delivered psychosocial intervention for LDCs of older adults with AD/ADRD living in
the community, by adapting an existing intervention developed for proximate caregivers (Stage IA) based on
findings from our previous NIA funded study on LDC (Stage 0). A second objective is to conduct feasibility testing
of such an intervention in the field (Stage IB). Our long-term research goal is to implement a randomized
controlled trial testing the potential of a technology-based, remotely delivered intervention for LDC of individuals
with AD/ADRD living at home. The current application focuses on Stage I (behavioral intervention development
and feasibility testing) and is the next step toward attainment of our long-term goal of testing the efficacy of such
an intervention utilizing a randomized controlled trial (Stage II and III – efficacy testing). The development of the
intervention through adaptation of Community REACH to the needs of LDCs will be achieved by creating an
advisory committee of caregiving experts. Committee members will be asked to help integrate a set of specific
findings from our Stage 0 study related to the challenges of LDC into the Community REACH intervention plan.
The sample of LDCs (N=40) for the feasibility study will be drawn from family caregivers of community-dwelling
older adults with AD/ADRD receiving non-medical home care via the access to home care agencies serving
racially and ethnically diverse older adults with dementia. This will ensure that home care aides can support CRs
in managing the technology (tablet) used to connect LDCs with CRs and aides as part of the intervention. We
will identify LDCs living 2+ hours away who experience significant caregiver burden and invite them to participate
in the intervention and feasibility study. The intervention will be delivered remotely by staff of the Family Caregiver
Alliance (FCA). Project...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10485989
- **Project number:** 5R21AG069019-02
- **Recipient organization:** LEADINGAGE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Verena Cimarolli
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $244,035
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10485989

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10485989, Development of an Intervention for Long-Distance Caregivers (5R21AG069019-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10485989. Licensed CC0.

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