STELLA Family of Studies
Support via Technology: Living and Learning with Advancing dementia
Welcome to STELLA!
We offer support options for families caring for those with dementia. Each option is a research study that tests ways to help families manage the challenges that come with dementia caregiving. We hope you’ll find a good fit here.
Our Story
The STELLA studies started in 2016 with a grant from the Oregon Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Over the years, we have tested several types of STELLA interventions including STAR-C-Telemedicine, Tele-STAR, STELLA, and STELLA-FTD (pilot). Our Tele-STELLA study has finished recruiting and one of our current studies, STELLA-R, will be recruiting until June 2026. You can find out more information from the publications listed at the bottom of this webpage.
We have now launched our newest study, STELLA-FTD, which is for family caregivers of persons with frontotemporal dementia. This study will be recruiting until September 2028.
Background
All STELLA studies are designed to help families cope with the behaviors that come with progressive dementia (such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia and Frontotemporal Degeneration). Working with evidence-based strategies, Dr. Allison Lindauer designed these studies to be available via telehealth and easily accessible to Care Partners. See our publications below for more information.
STELLA-FTD
STELLA-FTD is an online, 36-week study that includes both self-directed website learning and online group sessions with Guides and other Care Partners. This program is designed to support Care Partners of persons with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). STELLA-FTD is for people living anywhere in the United States.
Learn more about STELLA-FTD by clicking here.
STELLA-R
STELLA-R is an online, self-directed 8-week lesson program that teaches care partners evidence-based strategies to help manage the difficult symptoms of dementia. STELLA-R also offers resources and introduces different kinds of professionals who can help you on your caregiving journey. STELLA-R is for people living in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.
Learn more about STELLA-R by clicking here.
Learn more about the differences between STELLA-R and STELLA-FTD in the graphic below or view a larger version by clicking here.
Current Funders
Tele-STELLA: NIH National Institute on Aging: R01AG067546 – Ends January 31, 2026
STELLA-R: Oregon Health & Science University Foundation through a grant from The Hart Family Foundation – Anticipated end date of June 2026.
STELLA-FTD: NIH National Institute on Aging: R01AG084523 – Anticipated end date of June 2030.
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator
Lab Staff
Christina Zonker, BA
STELLA Data Manager
Hailey Chatterton, MS
STELLA-FTD Coordinator
Heather Franklin, MS
STELLA Statistician
Keely Dehn, BA
STELLA-R Coordinator
Kristin Cloyes, PhD, MN, RN
STELLA Qualitative Expert
Michelle Kinsella, OTR/L, BS
STELLA Dissemination Expert
Stephanie Irish, BA
STELLA Technology Assistant
Lindauer, A., Smith, S., Gothard, S., Mattek, N., Tran, L., & Mooney, A. (2023). ‘There’s no straight line...’ a consumer-informed intervention for FTD family care partners: the STELLA-FTD pilot study. Aging Ment Health, 27(10), 2000-2010. doi:10.1080/13607863.2023.2250741
Lindauer, A., Messecar, D., McKenzie, G., Gibson, A., Wharton, W., Bianchi, A., Tarter, R., Tadesse, R., Boardman, C., Golonka, O., Gothard, S., & Dodge, H.H. (2021). The Tele-STELLA protocol: Telehealth-based support for families living with later-stage Alzheimer’s disease. J Adv Nurs, 77(10), 4254-4267. doi:10.1111/jan.14980
Lindauer, A., McKenzie, G., LaFazia, D., McNeill, L., Mincks, K., Spoden, N., Marcella, M., Mattek, N., & Teri, L.L. (2019). Using technology to facilitate fidelity assessments: The TeleSTAR caregiver intervention. J Med Internet Res, 21(5), e13599. doi:10.2196/13599
Thomas, N.W.D., Lindauer, A., & Kaye, J. (2019). EVALUATE-AD and Tele-STAR: Novel methodologies for assessment of caregiver burden in a telehealth caregiver intervention A case study. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 47(3), 176-184. doi:10.1159/000497805
Lindauer, A., Croff, R., Mincks, K., Mattek, N., Shofner, S.J., Bouranis, N., & Teri, L. (2018). “It took the stress out of getting help”: The STAR-C-telemedicine mixed methods pilot. Care Wkly, 2, 7-14. doi:10.14283/cw.2018.4
Lindauer, A., & Harvath, T.A. (2014). Pre-death grief in the context of dementia caregiving: a concept analysis. J Adv Nurs, 70(10), 2196-2207. doi:10.1111/jan.12411
Contact Us
For STELLA-R:
Email: stella@ohsu.edu
Call/Text: (503) 816-8310
For STELLA-FTD:
Email: stellaftd@ohsu.edu
Call/Text: (503) 568-9725
Research Studies
Are you a researcher wanting access to the data?
Please fill out the form below.