Principal Investigator: Dr. Candace L. Kemp, Gerontology Institute
Co-Investigators: Dr. Elisabeth Burgess, Gerontology Institute
Dr. Jennifer Craft Morgan, Gerontology Institute
Dr. Molly Perkins, Emory University School of Medicine
Dr. Alexis Bender, Emory University School of Medicine
Consultant: Dr. Fayron Epps, Nell Hodgson School of Nursing
Project Manager: Dr. Pamela Manley, Gerontology Institute
Post Doctoral Fellow: Dr. Joy Ciofi, Gerontology Institute
Research Associate: Stephen Duong, Gerontology Institute

This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, Award Number R01AG062310.

In 2018, Dr. Candace L. Kemp and colleagues were awarded a $3.37-million grant by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, to conduct a 5-year, qualitative study, “Meaningful Engagement and Quality of Life among Assisted Living Residents with Dementia” or the “ME Project.” Dr. Kemp is working with a talented team of faculty, staff, and student researchers. Overall, the research team anticipates involving a total of 352 participants, including residents, residents’ family members and friends, staff, volunteers, external care workers, and administrators and managers recruited from 12 different assisted living communities and personal care homes in and around Atlanta.

The overarching goal of the study is to identify best care practices aimed at recognizing, creating, and maintaining optimal meaningful engagement opportunities for persons with dementia in AL communities and personal care homes. Our research aims are to:

1. Learn what constitutes meaningful engagement for assisted living residents with dementia, including how it is perceived and negotiated by care partners;
2. Understand the intersecting factors that promote and constrain meaningful engagement opportunities and experiences in the lives of persons with dementia in assisted living; and
3. Determine strategies that promote meaningful engagement opportunities and experiences for persons living with dementia.

The “ME Project” supports the National Alzheimer’s Plan and its call to optimize care quality and to support persons living with dementia and their care partners. Research findings are expected to advance knowledge of engagement, including how to assess its meaning in the context of dementia care. Further, research findings are expected to yield significant theoretical, methodological, and empirical insights that (a) lead to best practices, (b) are transferable across care settings, and (c) are useful to persons living with dementia, their care partners, researchers, and policy-makers.

Between 2019 and 2020 researchers made nearly 500 visits to four diverse care communities and enrolled 133 participants, including residents, family, staff, and others. During these visits, researchers observed daily life, talked to those who live, work, and visit in the communities, and conducted interviews. The team is analyzing data and will share findings as the study progresses.

Between 2019 and 2020 researchers made nearly 500 visits to four diverse care communities and enrolled 133 participants, including residents, family, staff, and others. During these visits, researchers observed daily life, talked to those who live, work, and visit in the communities, and conducted interviews. The team is analyzing data and will share findings as the study progresses.