Advancing Knowledge and Advocating for Older Adults and Their Families
The Alabama Caregiver Connect project is led by Dr. Nicole Ruggiano who is a professor of Social Work at the University of Alabama. Nicole’s work in supporting older adults and their caregivers was inspired by her own experience as a caregiver and with dementia care. She understands that families are often frustrated in the lack of information they receive and challenges of health and long-term care services.
Before coming to Alabama, Nicole was a faculty member at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Early in her career, she researched how older adults with chronic conditions make decisions about their health. She has used the findings from this study to advocate for health care systems that are age-friendly and person-centered. She presented her research findings in a TEDx Talk, titled, Getting Old Should Not Mean Losing Control, which has more than 44,000 views. Educators have used this talk to teach students about aging and ageism. She also has received considerable feedback from community members, who can often relate to the study.
To watch her TEDx talk and see other media coverage of her work, click here.
Today, Nicole and the teams she works with develop and test technologies to help support people living with dementia and their families. Their studies have been funded by a number of sources, including:
- The Florida Department of Health
- The John A. Hartford Foundation
- The National Science Foundation
- The National Institute on Aging
