Research Center: The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health)
Location: This is a virtual research study in Galveston County, Texas
Lead Researchers: Dr. Ming (Huey-Ming) Tzeng, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Dr. Yong-Fang Kuo, Ph.D., R.N., and Dr. Mukaila Raji, M.D., M.S. (Pharm), F.A.C.P.
IRB: This study has been deemed exempt by UTMB Health Institutional Review Board

Currently supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia? As a family caregiver, you can greatly help with this virtual research study. Your insights can help shape health policy. Results could be earlier dementia diagnoses and improved care after diagnosis.

This study seeks to improve the Annual Wellness Visit for those with dementia. It is led by researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health). This study aims to provide more timely dementia care and support for participants and their families. Joining involves a simple 30-minute virtual interview. In the interview, you can share your experiences to improve dementia care. Let’s improve the lives of those with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.

Interested? Join this new research study!

• You will be compensated for joining. Those who complete the interview will receive a $25 gift card.
• You will contribute valuable information to benefit those with dementia in the future.
• You will help advance dementia care research in your community.

• If you participate but then don’t want to, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.

• Any active family caregiver of a loved one with a dementia diagnosis
• Able to attend a 30-minute interview via Zoom or phone
• Aged 21 and above
• Your loved one aged 65 and above with dementia currently receives U.S. Medicare health benefits (i.e., enrolled in a Medicare fee-for-service program or the Medicare Advantage program)
• Your loved one has had at least one Annual Wellness Visit
  • Annual Wellness visits are free (no co-pay) to those on Medicare.
    • Annual Wellness Visits could be delivered by a primary care provider or another healthcare provider, in a clinic or at home.
    • Annual Wellness Visits focus on risk assessment, such as dementia and home safety. They also include checking your medications. They involve developing a personalized wellness and prevention plan. This plan will help decrease risks and support older adults living in their current environment.
  • Labs and physical exams are not included in these visits.
• You, as an active family caregiver, must have attended at least one Annual Wellness Visit with your loved one in the past 12 months
• You must be able to speak English or Spanish
• Your loved one with dementia must not be living in a nursing home for more than 1 year

The study team will explain the research fully, but some details are:

• The study team will interview active family caregivers of those with dementia. We want to understand what works and what does not work in providing Annual Wellness Visits for those with dementia.
• Annual Wellness visits are free (no co-pay) for those on Medicare.
  • Annual Wellness Visits can be delivered by the participant’s primary care provider or a healthcare provider (e.g., a nurse, nursing practitioner, physician assistant, or pharmacist) in a clinical setting or at home.
  • Annual Wellness Visits focus on risk assessment, such as dementia and home safety. They also include checking your medications; developing a personalized wellness and prevention plan, to decrease risks and help older adults living in their current environment.

Labs and physical exams are not included.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health)
For more than 130 years, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health) has stood with Texas—training today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare workforce, working to better understand and treat illness and injury, providing care for Texas families, and innovating new ways to improve health.