# Development of a Faith-Based intervention in Dementia Caregiving

> **NIH NIH U54** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $41,666

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Black Americans (BA) have a substantially higher occurrence of dementia compared to whites, experience
delayed diagnoses and higher morbidity and mortality rates, and disproportionately receive dementia care and
education. This disparity in addition to barriers such as the belief that memory loss/dementia is a normal part of
aging, past discrimination in health services, and associated stigma, leaves the burden of care to informal
caregivers. BA more often receive assistance at home (rather than nursing institutions) from family caregivers
(CG) who also have the responsibility of making health care decisions for those who lack decisional capacity,
and without prior information and training to prepare them for surrogate decision-making.
There is an urgent need to increase knowledge about dementia and its risk factors (e.g., hypertension, sleep,
stress, high cholesterol, diabetes, hearing loss, and depression) to minimize risks of cognitive decline, and
improve brain health across the life course as this may lead to preventive measures, and timely diagnosis.
We partner with the Black church to facilitate the adoption of a dementia education program with dementia
caregivers, those diagnosed with mild dementia, and their family.
Aim 1: Synthesize qualitative focus group data to disseminate in the Black American faith community,
among church leaders and stakeholders. Complete analysis of qualitative data, foundational work
supported by HCHDS, collected from 3 local Black Churches, and present findings back to participants and
church leaders. Aim 2: Adapt current dementia caregiver educational materials and resources from
USAgainstAlzheimer's (US2A) organization to use within church health/ wellness ministries. 1. a. Meet
with previous church leaders from Aim 1 and newly recruited stakeholders and leaders appointed by the
church pastor to adapt current caregiver educational materials based on the findings from aim 1 and b) identify
delivery characteristics (e.g. words to describe, timing and approach to introducing dementia and brain health
education, as well as background and skills of selected facilitators of program) to inform activities in Aim 3. 1.
b. Train ministry leaders and appointed church congregants to facilitate dementia educational workshops with
parishioners. Aim 3: Assess the acceptability of delivering church-based dementia education program,
and examine the potential effects on participant knowledge gained, and satisfaction with the
educational program among dementia caregivers. We will pilot test an educational intervention at 2
churches with dementia caregivers and those with mild dementia, and their families utilizing adapted materials
from the US2A organization in a one day (6 hours) workshop consisting of three modules, 1) dementia
awareness, 2) treatment, and 3) preventative measures.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9967524
- **Project number:** 3U54MD000214-18S1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Darrell J. Gaskin
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $41,666
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2002-09-22 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9967524

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9967524, Development of a Faith-Based intervention in Dementia Caregiving (3U54MD000214-18S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9967524. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*