Older Adult Well-Being Lab
Directed by Dr. Karen Fingerman, the Older Adult Well-Being Lab (OWL) studies social relationships and health in late life. We take an ecologically valid approach to research by studying older adults as they go about their daily lives. We have used a variety of sensor devices on smart phones and fitness watches to unobtrusively track conversations, physical activity, sleep, television viewing, interactions with social partners, and a variety of daily activities.
Our recent research has included studies of intergenerational relationships from the Family Exchanges Study and studies of older adults’ social engagement and daily life fromthe Daily Experiences and Well-being Study.
Lewy Body Dementia Caregiver Study
Our current research involves a study funded by the National Institute on Aging examining the experiences of caregivers for family members experiencing Lewy Body Dementia (LBD; the current term that encompasses Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia). LBD is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia, accounting for 4 to 15% of dementia cases. Caregivers for LBD experience a distinct profile of demands that include: a) cognitive symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s Disease, b) motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and c) additional core symptoms of LBD that differ from other dementias: fluctuations in cognition, hallucinations, delusions and REM behavioral sleep disturbances (including acting out dreams). The LBD Caregiver Study will enhance the wellbeing of caregivers for older adults with LBD by gathering information about caregiving tasks, caregiver stress, and caregivers’ psychological and physical reactions to that stress throughout the day, allowing development of caregiver interventions and programs tailored to the unique needs of caregivers for older adults experiencing Lewy Body Dementia. Interested caregivers can fill out this form to enroll in the Lewy Body Dementia Caregiver Study or to learn more, contact us at caregivers@austin.utexas.edu
