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UNC Partners with Emory University and Other Leading Institutions to Launch National Dementia Care Initiative

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In a groundbreaking effort to advance dementia care across the United States, researchers from the Sheps Center at UNC-CH have partnered with Emory University, the University of Minnesota, Johns Hopkins University, Brown University, and the Alzheimer’s Association to establish the State Alzheimer’s Research Support (StARS) Center. This initiative, funded by a $17 million grant from the National Institute on Aging, aims to develop, evaluate, and scale promising dementia care programs nationwide.

The StARS Center will serve as a national resource, fostering research collaboration and creating a comprehensive data infrastructure to assess the effectiveness, accessibility, and equity of innovative state and regional dementia care programs.

Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, MSW

The center’s four main functions include establishing partnerships with state and regional entities to help them identify and develop new services; supporting dementia-care pilot projects; building a statewide and nationwide data infrastructure; and developing a dissemination strategy to share StARS-generated data and information. Co-directors of the Program on Aging, Chronic Illness, and Long-Term Care at the Sheps Center, Drs. Sheryl Zimmerman (School of Social Work) and Philip Sloane (School of Medicine), will lead the first two efforts.

Zimmerman will work with Dr. Sam Fazio from the Alzheimer’s Association to establish partnerships with state and organizational representatives to identify dementia care programs, policies, and data sources. They will also assist in the development of new programs and their evaluation. “Our goal is to help the states advance their plans for dementia care and create a network of partnerships to develop, evaluate, and share best practices and innovative approaches to care,” said Zimmerman.

Philip Sloane, MD, MPH

Sloane will lead the function of supporting dementia-care pilot projects with Dr. Katherine Ornstein from Johns Hopkins University. This involves providing funding and support for up to 16 states to conduct pilot projects that assess the structure and outcomes of dementia care services. “By supporting these pilot projects, we’ll help states evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of their dementia care services, ensuring they meet the needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers,” stated Sloane.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers, and the Sheps Center is proud to be at the forefront of this national work.

Read more about the StARS Center here.