Over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care to loved ones with dementia, facing significant emotional, mental, and physical challenges. This group includes many active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. To address this pressing need, an interdisciplinary team from the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences has received a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) aimed at expanding digital mental health support tailored for dementia caregivers.
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The initiative targets not only military families but also civilian caregivers who experience distress in their caregiving roles. It also includes brief online mental health training for individuals living with dementia. Beth Fauth, a professor and director at the state-funded Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Research Center, leads the project. This DOD-funded effort builds on extensive clinical research that adapts Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to assist dementia caregivers. ACT is a psychotherapy approach focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and values to enhance mental health and psychological flexibility.
Fauth noted that while many traditional caregiver programs are effective in teaching skills and offering support, they often fall short in addressing the emotional and psychological toll of caregiving. “The DOD’s support allows us to assess whether a self-guided online tool can improve the emotional health of dementia caregivers, as well as their physical health behaviors and relationships,” Fauth stated.
The ACT for Caregivers program specifically addresses the emotional strain on caregivers. Instead of trying to eliminate stress—something often unattainable—it teaches caregivers to coexist with it. Participants cultivate skills to accept difficult emotions, clarify their values, and take meaningful actions amid ongoing challenges. “Our program is designed to help caregivers live with their stressful situation more comfortably,” Fauth added.
The self-guided digital format of the program aims to eliminate obstacles for caregivers, including difficulties accessing traditional therapy due to location, costs, or time constraints. This project consolidates expertise from various departments within the college. Fauth leads the caregiving aspect and serves as the intervention lead, while Michael Levin from the Department of Psychology adapts ACT into the digital format. Ty Aller and Heather Kelley from the Center for Mental Health Promotion engage with community members to guide the project’s development.
A critical component of this proposal involves including individuals with firsthand experience in caregiving, military, or rural contexts, enriching the project's relevance and impact. The project will also be evaluated by senior researcher Alyson Ward and the Tailored Research, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement team at IDRPP.
To ensure the intervention meets the needs of caregivers, teams from the Center for Mental Health Promotion are working with caregivers and community stakeholders throughout the development process. Community partners, including the University of Massachusetts Boston and the University of Alaska Anchorage, contribute valuable military family networks. Veteran Mike Spencer, who has expertise in military and dementia support, helps lead the community stakeholder panel.
As the study progresses, the team aims to create a sustainable resource for clinics, veterans’ organizations, and family networks long after the grant period. Kelley noted the transformative potential of the program, citing past feedback from participants who described it as “life-changing.” With this grant, the team anticipates reaching more individuals and families in need of support. Aller expressed hope that families and community partners will recognize that effective, accessible resources exist for both veterans and all dementia caregivers.