Sarah Holmes, PhD, MSW

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Sarah Holmes, PhD, MSW
  • Assistant Professor
    Organizational Systems and Adult Health
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Location:
Room 390A, School of Nursing Building
Phone:
410-706-1389
Email:
I am currently accepting new PhD students.

Education

  • PhD, Gerontology, University of Maryland Baltimore
  • MSW, Social Work, The Ohio State University
  • BA, Psychology, Miami University

Contracts, Fellowships, Grants, and Sponsored Research

  • Date:
    2022 - 2024
    Title:
    Meaningful Activity for Residents with Dementia in Assisted Living
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Alzheimer's Association
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2022 - 2024
    Title:
    Advancing Person-Centered Dementia Care in Low Resource Contexts
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Alzheimer's Association
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2023 - 2024
    Title:
    Multi-stakeholder Perspectives on a Sensorized Work Environment in Nursing Home Settings
    Sponsoring Organization:
    UMB Institute for Clinical & Translational Research (ICTR)
    Role:
    Co-Principal
  • Date:
    2022 - 2024
    Title:
    The University of Maryland Interdisciplinary Wellness Clinic in Low-Income Senior Housing
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Thome Foundation- Enterprise Properties
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
  • Date:
    2019 - 2022
    Title:
    Antipsychotic Reduction in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
    Sponsoring Organization:
    National Institute on Aging
    Role:
    Co-Investigator

Research Interests

  • Long-term care; Senior housing; Physical and social environments; Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; Quality of life

Research Activity

  • Duration:
    2022 - 2024
    Title:
    Meaningful Activity for Residents with Dementia in Assisted Living
    Description:
    The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Meaningful Activity for Managing Behavioral Symptoms of Distress (MAC-4-BSD) intervention on residents’ behavioral symptoms and quality of life in a sample of assisted living residents with dementia. The intervention will be tested using a cluster randomized trial with a repeated measures design. A total of 100 residents with dementia will be recruited from 4 assisted living communities in Maryland. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, 4, and 12 months. Findings from this study will inform best care practices aimed at optimizing meaningful activity for assisted living residents with dementia that decrease behavioral symptoms of distress and improve their quality of life.
    Status:
    On-Going
  • Duration:
    2022 - Current
    Title:
    Advancing Person-Centered Dementia Care in Low-Resource Contexts
    Description:
    PI of study in which investigators are partnering with persons living with dementia, family members and care staff to elicit perspectives on measuring person-centered care. The research team will use study findings to develop an inclusive measurement implementation framework to increase capacity for meaningful measurement and high-quality dementia care.
    Status:
    On-Going
  • Duration:
    2023 - 2024
    Title:
    Multi-stakeholder Perspectives on a Sensorized Work Environment in Nursing Home Settings
    Description:
    Sensorization is the process of adding smart devices such as smart speakers, televisions, and watches to spaces that can “sense” the environment and connect to the Internet. The sensors embedded in such devices obtain readings that, after further analysis, can be translated into useful insights. For example, in nursing homes the use of sensors have been shown to detect falls in residents, prevent pressure ulcers or medication errors, and improve staff workflows. Different types of sensors can often be used for the same goal and the decision about which sensors to use involves trade-offs, including cost, accuracy, usability, adoption, and privacy. The purpose of this research is to: (1) understand nursing home stakeholder perceptions of different sensor options and their trade-offs, and (2) create an efficient process for developing feasible and acceptable sensorization plans that may be utilized in nursing homes. In this study, we will interview administrators and leaders, staff, and residents in a nursing home setting to understand their perspectives on sesensorization, identify priorities that may be addressed through sensorization and address the facilitators and barriers of implementing sensors in nursing homes.
    Status:
    On-Going

Publications

  • Holmes, S. (2024, April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 23). Examining Pain, Function, Behavioral Symptoms and Associations with Engagement in Meaningful Activity for Residents with Dementia in Assisted Living. Aging & Mental Health. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2024.2342963
  • Holmes, S. (2024, May 19). Nursing Home Characteristics Associated with Antipsychotic Prescribing After Implementation of the National Antipsychotic Reduction Initiative (ARI). Clinical Gerontologist. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2024.2346906
  • Simoni-Wastila, L., Qato, D., Fleming, S., Johnson, A., Briesacher, B., McArdle, P., et al. (2023, February 25). Unintended Impacts of a National Antipsychotic Reduction Initiative among Nursing Facility Residents with and without Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.18276
  • Vo, Q., Koethe, B., Holmes, S., Simoni-Wastila, L. & Briesacher, B. (2022, August 15). Patient Outcomes After Delirium Screening and Incident Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementias in Skilled Nursing Facilities. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 38 (2), 414-420.
  • Holmes, S., Resnick, B. M., Galik, E., Kusmaul, N. & Lerner, N. B. (2020, October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 8). Testing the Associations Between the Assisted Living Environment and Residents’ Satisfaction with Assisted Living. Seniors Housing & Care.
  • Holmes, S., Resnick, B. M., Galik, E., Gruber-Baldini, A. & Kusmaul, N. (2020, July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 24). Reliability and Validity of the Resident Satisfaction Index in Assisted Living.. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 733464820943807. doi:10.1177/0733464820943807
  • Holmes, S., Resnick, B. M., Galik, E. & Kusmaul, N. (2019, March 13). Developing and testing a model of the assisted living environment. Journal of Aging and Environment, 3 (suppl 1), 637-638.

Presentations

  • Year:
    2024
    Title:
    Implementation of Interdisciplinary Senior Housing Clinics.
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    American Geriatrics Society Conference
    Sponsoring Organization:
    American Geriatrics Society Conference
    Location:
    online
  • Year:
    2024
    Title:
    Examining Meaningful Activity Engagement for Residents in Assisted Living (MAC-4-BSD)
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    AMDA: The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
    Location:
    San Antonio TX United States
  • Year:
    2023
    Title:
    Providing Dementia Care Across Low-Resource Communities
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Gerontological Society of America
    Location:
    Tampa FL United States
  • Year:
    2023
    Title:
    Low-resource long-term dementia care settings: Identifying key features and strategies for research recruitment
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Alzheimer’s Association International Conference
    Location:
    Amsterdam Netherlands
  • Year:
    2023
    Title:
    Engagement in Meaningful Activities Among Residents with Dementia in Assisted Living
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Alzheimer’s Association International Conference
    Location:
    Amsterdam Netherlands
  • Year:
    2022
    Title:
    Nursing Home Factors Impacting Antipsychotic Use Before and After Implementation of a National Antipsychotic Reduction Initiative
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    American Geriatrics Society
    Location:
    Orlando FL United States
  • Year:
    2021
    Title:
    Measuring What Matters in Long-Term Care: Common Data Elements in Brazil, China, and the United States
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Gerontological Society of America
    Location:
    Phoenix AZ United States
  • Year:
    2020
    Title:
    The Association of Antipsychotic Use with Care Transitions among Long-Term Care Residents
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
  • Year:
    2020
    Title:
    Measurement Opportunities and Challenges with Long Term Care Residents with Dementia
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Gerontological Society of America

Primary Teaching Areas

  • Statistics; Data Analysis; Methods

Honors/Awards

  • Name:
    Distinguished Scholarship Award
    Sponsoring organization:
    University of Maryland School of Nursing
    Date:
    2023
  • Name:
    Douglas Holmes Emerging Scholar Award
    Sponsoring organization:
    Gerontological Society of America
    Date:
    2021
  • Name:
    Selected Paper of Merit Award
    Sponsoring organization:
    Journal of Seniors Housing & Care
    Date:
    2020

Academic and Professional Activities

University

  • Date:
    2023 - Current
    Organization:
    UMSON PhD Curriculum Committee
    Role:
    Member
  • Date:
    2022 - Current
    Organization:
    UMSON Doctoral Student Organization
    Role:
    Faculty Advisor

Professional

  • Date:
    2024 - Current
    Organization:
    Gerontological Society of America: Interest Group on Research in Quality of Care (RESQCARE)
    Role:
    Committee Chair