Two Virginia Tech researchers and a Carilion physician who specializes in treating patients with memory decline are teaming up to look at whether caregivers of people with dementia face additional challenges if they are extended family members rather than spouses or adult children.
Tech professors Karen Roberto and Tina Savla and Dr. Aubrey Knight think that grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings and stepchildren might encounter different barriers, but they are not sure since there hasnât been much research on the topic.
They have won a $2.14 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Healthâs Institute on Aging to find out if these relatives have special needs.
New study to examine the role of extended family caregivers of people with dementia
Karen Roberto and Tina Savla, both core faculty members of Virginia Tech s Center for Gerontology, are leading a five-year, $2.14 million study that will examine the role of extended family caregivers and their service use, needs, and challenges.
The National Institute on Aging part of the National Institutes of Health awarded the grant.
While most of the caregiving literature to date has focused on close kin, such as adult children and spouses, this new study will turn the spotlight on other family caregivers, such as grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, and step-kin.