My research focuses on sleep in the elderly. Sleep is a big problem for elders -- their sleep is less efficient and they have decreased amounts of deep sleep. Poor nighttime sleep in elders leads to fatigue that decreases their daytime functioning and quality of life. I am particularly interested in how health care providers can improve sleep in elders using behavioral, environmental, and pharmacological interventions. I am also interested in how elders can use self-care principles to improve their own sleep. 

My current research focuses on sleep in elders with dementia. Disturbed nighttime sleep and wandering is the most common reason for placement of elders with dementia in nursing homes and results in significant management problems for staff in the nursing home setting. Nursing home care costs billions of dollars each year, so testing interventions to promote sleet is not only important or elders with dementia, their families, and nursing home staff, it also has an important potential cost impact for society. 

I am funded from the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Nursing Research Initiative, and have VA HSR&D Career Development Award to study sleep in persons with dementia. I tested the effect of a social activity intervention on nighttime sleep and daytime napping in nursing home residents with dementia and found that the social activity decreased daytime sleep and increased nighttime sleep. In the near future, I plan to test the effect of exercise in combination with social activity. I am also investigating factors such as medications and provider practice patterns associated with disturbed sleep in nursing home residents with dementia. I am particularly interested in the relationship of the newer, novel anti-psychotics to sleep patterns.

I enjoy working with all levels of nursing students, from juniors to doctoral students on sleep research. Both the students and I benefit from working together. Students add a new perspective to my research and provide valuable technical support. Students benefit from participating in research because they learn the scientific process in the "real world". In addition, many students have used their sleep research experience to pursue advanced degrees.