An overview of ongoing efforts in dementia research, focusing on both operational enhancements and specific studies. Initiatives include creating a brain health program for dementia caregivers and exploring the experiences of residents during admission to long-term care. Another study identifies how care partners contribute to resident activities, providing insights for programming and communication. These projects involve collaborations with universities and community partners to advance understanding and support.
Full transcript
When a person is diagnosed with dementia, a support system often forms around them. At the center of that system is the caregiver. Their work is constant, their presence assumed. But what about the caregiver’s own health? Specifically, their brain health? Today, we look at new work that places the caregiver at the center of the research question. We explore a program being built not just for, but with caregivers, to support their cognitive wellness. We also examine one of the most stressful moments for any family: the move into a long-term care facility. What factors determine whether that transition is successful? And once a resident has settled in, what are the many unseen ways their partners continue to contribute to their lives? It’s a view of care that expands beyond the individual, looking at the whole network. This is a story about dementia research, but it’s also a story about caregiver support initiatives.
McCormick Dementia Research is refining its operations by creating new processes for managing projects, updating policies, and auditing its website content for accuracy. These actions are intended to support ongoing research activity.
Several studies are underway in collaboration with Western University. The CARE-Fit initiative is developing a brain health program for dementia caregivers, with co-design sessions scheduled for early 2026. Another project, currently awaiting ethics approval, explores the experiences of residents and their care partners during admission to long-term care to identify influences on transition success. A recently completed study identified ways care partners contribute to residents’ activities, with insights intended to guide programming and communication.
Planning also continues for the 2026 Disrupting Dementia Symposium, scheduled for May 12. McCormick is collaborating with Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners, a center at Western University, and community partners. Organizers are exploring alternative funding sources for the event.
The projects we looked at today demonstrate a broadening perspective in dementia care. Research is not only about finding treatments for a condition, but also about supporting the entire ecosystem of people affected by it. From building new tools for caregiver brain health, to better understanding the transition into long-term care, the goal is to make the system work for families. The insights from these studies are designed to become the foundation for future programming and communication. As this work continues, the focus remains on turning these findings into practice.
From Dementia Research Briefing, thanks for listening.