# Strategies for Effective Caregiver Communication with Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (SECC-AD)

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $191,250

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
 As the population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is increasing as is
the need for caregivers to assist persons with dementia to complete activities of daily living. Families provide
care at home for most persons with dementia. However the stress of caregiving leads to negative caregiver
outcomes including depression and increased morbidity and mortality. One of the greatest challenges for
caregivers relates to loss of communication abilities in the person with dementia that progress along with
cognitive decline. Communication breakdown effects all aspects of providing care as well as relating to a
person with dementia. Current communication knowledge and dementia caregiver training is primarily
anecdotal and focused on institutional (formal) caregivers. Evidence-based knowledge is needed to inform
effective interventions for family caregivers to support successful communication that facilitates care and
maintains interpersonal relationships.
 The goal of this research is to identify evidence-based caregiver communication behaviors and
strategies that prevent and successfully resolve communication breakdown. We will complete a secondary
analysis of over 200 video recordings captured at home by fifty-one family caregivers. These unscripted,
spontaneous care episodes were recorded in our recently completed Supporting Family Caregivers with
Technology for Dementia Home Care (FamTechCare) telehealth trial (R01NR014737). We will adapt validated
measures of caregiver communication behaviors (based on the Verbal and Nonverbal Interaction Scale,
Caregiver version) and indicators of communication breakdown and successful versus unsuccessful repair
(based on the Trouble Source Repair Model) to frame-by-frame behavioral coding analyses.
 We will use sequential and linear regression analyses to identify what communication strategies are
associated with successful communication (prevention and successful resolution of communication
breakdown) within and between dyads. We will evaluate covariate factors to identify strategies with differential
effects based on dyad characteristics such as relationship and type and severity of dementia diagnosis. These
findings will be used to develop caregiver communication interventions. Because communication is critical to
all aspects of dementia care, increasing caregiver communication skills can facilitate care, reduce the stress
and burden of caregiving, and support interpersonal relationships so families can continue dementia home
care. This research targets the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease goal to expand support for people
with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their families.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9917257
- **Project number:** 1R21AG066491-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Carissa K Coleman
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $191,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-02-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9917257

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9917257, Strategies for Effective Caregiver Communication with Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (SECC-AD) (1R21AG066491-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9917257. Licensed CC0.

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