My program of research uses unique methods that focus on the relationships of at least two people (e.g., the person living with changes in their thinking and a family member) to improve their quality of life. My most recent research projects focus on culturally tailoring supports to help families navigate the healthcare system more effectively as well as equipping healthcare systems to support the needs of these families.
ACTIVE PROJECT(S)
DECIDE: Providers and Families
This project is funded by the Alzheimer’s Association (24HPE-1284978). The purpose of this project is to understand when and how to help African American families of persons living with memory loss communicate more effectively with their primary care provider and other care team members. We will develop a tool based on the discussions and test this tool in a couple primary care clinics.
If you are 1) caring for someone living with dementia, 2) previously supported someone living withe dementia, or 3) a primary care healthcare professional or a member of the healthcare team, this study might be for you.
Please complete our prescreening survey. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.
DECIDE: Daughters and Their Parents
This project is funded by the National Institute on Aging (K23AG0735160). The purpose of this project is to understand how adult daughters of African American older adults with changes in their thinking make health care decisions. This project is open to adult daughters and their parents who live in the United States. The first phase is to develop a tool specifically for these parents and their adult daughters. The second phase is to see how well the tool works.
We are analyzing part of the first phase now. After we complete the analysis, we will recruit for the second phase.
“Mom and I just finished participating in the Daughters and Their Parents Research Study and it was cool listening to mom answer the questions and see her feel good to participate in something. She was proud of herself. If you and your loved one are able to participate, please do.”
“Thank you Kalisha! It was a pleasure speaking with you last night and it was interesting to hear Daddy share his thoughts. Some of it was clearly too complex for him to understand, but he did seem to grasp a few things pretty clearly.”
PAST PROJECT(S)
DECIDE: Providers
This project was funded by the Emory University’s Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The purpose of this project was to understand how healthcare providers and staff assist families of Black American persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias navigate health care decision making. Providers included physicians and nurse practitioners. Staff consisted of nurses and social workers.
We are analyzing this data now, and results are forthcoming.
