University of Minnesota School of Nursing and The Lutheran Home Association Partner on Federal Grant

University of Minnesota School of Nursing and

The Lutheran Home Association Partner

on Federal Grant

The University of Minnesota School of Nursing has been awarded a $1.2 million dollar grant in partnership with The Lutheran Home Association of Belle Plaine, Minnesota through the Federal Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to study the potential impact that health monitoring technology has on persons with Alzheimer’s/dementia and their family caregivers.

The goal of this 5-year research demonstration project is to measure the effectiveness of advanced technology that utilizes monitors and sensors to provide remote health monitoring around the clock to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia related conditions maintain independence and optimum health. The remote monitoring system uses monitors and sensors to track daily activity and alert caregivers if an incident has potentially occurred, such as a fall, wandering, or missed medication.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures 2014, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia conditions. In 2012, 15.4 million caregivers provided more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care to people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia conditions valued at $216 billion.

Joseph E. Gaugler, PhD, U of M School of Nursing is a national leader in dementia caregiver support interventions, is leading this research study. “We anticipate that this innovative health monitoring intervention, which adopts a proactive approach to chronic disease care, will result in a cost-effective approach that offers robust support for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias at home,” Joseph Gaugler, PhD, U of M.

The Lutheran Home Association has been implementing health monitoring technology across multiple settings, including private homes, for the past 6 years and has launched technology enabled care models which assist older adults to live independently in their homes. The Lutheran Home Association offers comprehensive experience in program development and design, advanced health technology implementation, rural health services, rural training development and outreach, program administration, and innovative service delivery strategies.

The Lutheran Home Association will provide the technology assessment, technology installation, training, and support for family caregivers. “By partnering with the University of Minnesota in this study, The Lutheran Home Association continues its’ national movement as an organization that is leading innovation through the implementation of new technologies that may positively and significantly impact the care giving sector. We look forward to the outcomes of this study and how the results may positively impact Alzheimer’s/dementia support strategies and the dementia care model,” Michael Klatt, President and CEO, The Lutheran Home Association.

Dr. Gaugler is an Associate Professor and McKnight Presidential Fellow in the School of Nursing and the Center on Aging. His research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and long-term care as well as supporting family caregivers of older persons with chronic diseases. He is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the American Psychological Association and is Editor of the Journal of Applied Gerontology.

The University of Minnesota School of Nursing ranks 15th nationally, in funding from the National Institutes of Health, among schools of nursing across the country. It is the oldest continuously-operated, university-based school of nursing. The School of Nursing is one of six schools and colleges in the Academic Health Center, one of the most comprehensive facilities for health professionals in the nation, fostering interdisciplinary study, research, and education.

About The Lutheran Home Association
The Lutheran Home Association offers a wide variety of healthcare, housing and spiritual outreach services with campuses in several states and congregational programs serving seniors and individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities nationwide. Learn more at www.tlha.org, follow @TLHAword on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook.