News and events
Happenings
2026
Feb. 24 — Assistant professor coauthors study in national cancer journal
Alex Fauer, an assistant professor at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, coauthored the study, “Acceptability of a practical geriatric assessment intervention with older adult cancer survivors and community health workers/promotoras: a qualitative investigation,” published in Supportive Care in Cancer. The team refined and validated a protocol aimed to reduce the burden of cancer for older adults after they are diagnosed and treated, partnered with community health workers and cancer survivor consultants. Before new treatments and interventions are developed, exploratory and qualitative research help to understand what isn’t working so that the solutions built later are grounded in real needs. This matters because for many cancer survivors, health care systems are fragmented to identify and address long-term health care needs. His coauthors include PhD alumnae Sandra Calderon and Angela Usher, K12 mentors Diana Miglioretti and Fred Meyers, Quynh Vo of the Family Caregiving Institute, Chad Han from Flinders University and Vision y Compromiso’s Miriam Hernandez, a community partner.
Feb. 19 — National journal names caregiving research as Editor’s Choice
The Gerontologist selected “Comparison of Caregivers of Older Adults in State and National Surveys to Those Seeking Help in California’s Caregiver Resource Centers” as its second Editor’s Choice article for the fourth quarter of 2025. Led by Professors Janice M. Bell and Heather M. Young, along with colleagues at the Family Caregiving Institute at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, the study examines whether national surveys fully capture caregivers’ needs. The research finds that California caregivers who seek help are more likely to provide high-intensity, full-time care and report poorer well-being than those represented in national datasets. Researchers say the implication is clear: caregivers with the greatest burdens may be undercounted in widely cited surveys. Rounding out the team of researchers are alumna Robin Whitney, Benjamin Link, and former postdocs Tina Kilaberia and Orly Tonkikh.
2025
Dec. 8 — Professor highlights structural inequities faced by immigrant care workers
An editorial by the Family Caregiving Institute’s Heather M. Young titled “Essential Yet Overlooked: Structural Disregard for Immigrant Direct Care Workers” appeared in Research in Gerontological Nursing. She argues that immigrant direct-care workers — who provide essential care for older adults — are frequently neglected by health care and social-service systems. Though not a traditional research study, the editorial underscores how systemic neglect contributes to low pay, poor working conditions and lack of recognition for immigrant caregivers. Heather, along with co-author Barbara Bowers, calls on policy makers, nurse educators and health care organizations to acknowledge and address these structural injustices — to ensure immigrant care workers are treated as valued professionals rather than invisible labor.
Dec. 5 — Faculty-led team explores link between caregiver wellness and hospitalizations of older adults
Janice F. Bell, a professor at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, coauthored “Association Between Caregiver Well-Being and Care Recipient Hospitalization: A Secondary Data Analysis” published in Research in Gerontological Nursing. Along with authors Teuta Kadiu, Cherrie Demayo, Kerri L. Maya and Nicole Heibert, all former doctoral students, the team used data from the 2020 “Caregiving in the United States” survey to assess how caregivers’ physical strain, emotional strain, general health and sense of meaning relate to hospitalizations among older care recipients. Findings reveal a strong association: caregivers reporting poorer well-being — including worse general health and higher physical or emotional strain — were more likely to see their care recipients hospitalized, especially when hospitalizations were frequent. The research calls attention to caregiver health as a critical factor in patient outcomes.
Dec. 4 — Rural older adults face big gaps in care
Researchers from the Family Caregiving Institute release a new set of statewide policy recommendations to build aging equity across rural California.
Nov. 24 — You’re not alone in caregiving
Nearly one in four Americans cares for a family member or friend. But an effort led by the Family Caregiving Institute’s Anna Satake, expertise is just a consultation away.
Nov. 17 — Family Caregiving Institute team presents symposium at GSA annual meeting
Members of the Family Caregiving Institute at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing presented the symposium, “Roadmap to Innovation: Charting California’s Path to Strengthening Caregiving Services and Supports” at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston. Team members Rachael Fulp-Cooke, Shikha Bhurtel and Orly Tonkykh featured five presentations highlighting the team’s work to address the evolving landscape of family caregiving in California, shaped by shifting demographics and growing care needs. They included:
- California’s Approach to the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
- Promising Practices in Caregiving: Learning from Innovative Initiatives Across U.S. States
- Leveraging Analytics to Shape California’s Caregiver Equity Roadmap
- A Roadmap to Strengthen Caregiver Services and Supports in California
- Advancing Equity for Family Caregivers: Rural and Urban Differences in Demands, Resources and Outcomes
Rita Choula, senior director of Caregiving at the AARP Public Policy Institute, served as the symposium’s discussant, providing valuable insights and perspective.
Oct. 8 — Faculty, alumni and postdocs publish caregiver study in national journal
Janice Bell and Heather M. Young, professors at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, led a team that published Comparison of Caregivers of Older Adults in State and National Surveys to Those seeking Help in California's Caregiver Resource Centers in the journal Gerontologist. Researchers found that caregivers who seek help through California’s Caregiver Resource Centers differ significantly from those represented in national and state surveys. They provide more intensive, hands-on care and experience greater health impacts, including poorer self-rated health and higher loneliness. These findings suggest that relying solely on population-based surveys may overlook the needs of caregivers who most require support and resources. Other authors include School of Nursing alumna Robin Whitney, former Heather M. Young postdoctoral scholars Tina Kilaberia and Orly Tonkikh and data analyst Benjamin Link.
In the news
2025
Mar. 12, 2025
The role of the family caregiver in dementia care
LAist
Heather Young, professor and dean emerita at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and associate director of the Family Caregiving Institute at UC Davis, joined LAist’s AirTalk to discuss how families provide critical support to loved ones with dementia.
2024
Jan. 25, 2024
Significant disparities in dementia diagnosis
MIRAGE News
A UC Davis Health study led by Ladson Hinton, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate director for research at the Family Caregiving Institute at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, found that people from minoritized populations are less likely to receive accurate dementia diagnoses and timely care.
2023
Oct. 25, 2023
As the need grows for nursing homes, nurses are in short supply
Marketplace
This report highlights how senior care facilities nationwide are struggling with staffing shortages — a challenge UC Davis Health and the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing are directly confronting as they train future nurses and support retention efforts.
Sep. 13, 2023
Global adult day care market projected to expand
Business Wire
A new market analysis forecasts rising demand for adult day care, aligning with UC Davis’s interest in community-based elder care and the Family Caregiving Institute’s mission to support nonresidential care models.
Aug. 25, 2023
Alliance with Black churches closes care gaps for aging people
California Health Care Foundation
Jill Joseph, professor emeritus at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, collaborated with the Alameda County Care Alliance to develop a faith-based care navigation program that helps Black families access resources and support for loved ones with serious illnesses.
May 4, 2023
How everyday stress impacts heart health
Newswise
UC Davis cardiovascular researchers explore how chronic stress can alter heart function at the molecular level and raise long-term cardiovascular risk
Press releases
May 2, 2025
Most caregivers are ill-prepared for their own hospitalization
New research shows that for caregivers of someone with dementia are not prepared for their own hospital stay.
Jan. 30, 2025
New toolkit helps rural communities plan for aging together
A UC Davis nursing school researcher collaborates with a national foundation to provide opportunities for older adults to age with purpose in their communities.
