Our vision is that all older adults with dementia and serious illness receive high-quality care from diagnosis through the end of life.
Our lab conducts rigorous health services research to:
Understand
The care experiences of older adults with dementia and serious illness across the course of illness.
Examine
How healthcare delivery systems and markets shape their care.
Evaluate
How policy and public health interventions influence healthcare delivery to provide stakeholders with evidence to make informed decisions.
Our Research
Improving care across the course of serious illness
Our research examines care experiences, healthcare delivery, workforce capacity, and innovative models of care for older adults with dementia and serious illness.
01
Focus Area
Hospice & Palliative Care Delivery and Policy
We study patterns of hospice and palliative care use and how organizational characteristics and market structure shape access to and experiences of care.
Featured Publication
National Trends in Types of Hospice Disenrollment Among Older Adults With Dementia, 2012–2019
Hunt LJ, Gan S, Harrison KL, et al.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2026
02
Focus Area
Clinical Course of Dementia & Serious Illness
We examine changes in function, symptoms, and healthcare service use across the course of dementia and serious illness.
Featured Publication
Days at Home After Hip Fracture Among Older Adults With and Without Dementia
Rodin R, Smith AK, Gan S, et al.
JAMA Network Open · 2026
03
Focus Area
Healthcare Workforce Dynamics
We examine healthcare workforce capacity to care for older adults with dementia and serious illness, identify gaps, and inform the development of resources to enhance workforce preparedness.
Featured Publication
Nurses' Transitions Into and Out of the Home Health Sector
Samson Z, Hunt LJ, Wagner LM, et al.
Medical Care Research and Review · 2026
04
Focus Area
Dementia Care Models
We evaluate how innovative care models can best support older adults with dementia and their caregivers and integrate with hospice, palliative care, and long-term services and supports.
Featured Publication
The Effect of the Care Ecosystem Collaborative Care Model on End-of-Life Outcomes for People With Dementia and Their Caregivers
Hunt LJ, Harrison KL, Kiekhofer R, et al.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · 2026