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Research Updates & Initiatives

  • Our work on virtual reality training in dementia care for nursing home direct care workers with Jolly Good Inc. was featured as an impactful research in the College Annual Impact Report and University's official SPIRIT magazine!​

  • Dr. Chen has written an advocacy brief for GSA Advocacy Day on the Hill. Find it here. She has been highlighted on the University website, too.

  • Dr. Chen and Professor Tomaszweski kicks off a year long Human Rights Dialogue Series with UN Independent Expert on Human Rights, Dr. Claudia Mahler and Dean Melissa Perry as speakers. The series continues till April 2026.

  • Dr. Chen will present at three major academic conferences with 14 presentations in 2025-2026.

  • Our dementia training was accepted at the NASW VA Chapter Annual Conference in Newport News, VA for March 2026 and as a course at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Fairfax, VA for April 2026.

  • Dr. Chen's scoping review on technology for older adults with dementia to age in place was published by Current Geriatrics Report!

  • Our research "Relationship-Centered Care for Formal and Informal Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia: VR and Multi-modal Approaches"was awarded $29,958 USD by the College of Public Health Pilot Award.

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Activities in Photos

Our George Mason University student research assistants were featured in the local Korean newspaper! (July 2024)

Our research team wins best poster award at George Mason University Celebration of Scholarship! (August 2024)

Looking back at 2025 in photos

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Dr. Chen advocates for NIH research funding and older adult services with Gerontological Society of America (GSA) members. (April, 2025)

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Dr. Chen organizes a year long Human Rights Dialogue Series from October 2025 - April 2026. Here, she is with Professor Tomaszweski displaying the AIDS quilt for World AIDS Day (Dec 2025)

Dr. Chen trains direct care staff in nursing homes on dementia care. (May 2025)

Dr. Chen had 6 presenttions at the annual conference of the American Public Health Association held in Washington DC. Presenting a paper at a panel on technology and aging (left) and poster presentation (right). (November 2025)

Dr. Chen had 4 presentations at the annual conference of the Gerontological Society of America held in Boston. With Dr. Duy Nguyen (left) and members of the Japanese and Japanese American Studies in Aging Interest Group of which Dr. Chen is one of the lead conveners (right).(November 2025)

We welcomed Dr. Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert on Human Rights for Older Adults to kick off our year long Human Rights Dialogue Series. To my right is Dr. Mahler (October 2025)

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Participate in our survey!

One of our studies aim to explore the experiences and perspectives of racial and ethnic older adults regarding their sense of belonging in the community, civic engagement, and their health and personal well-being.

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An in-person or online survey must be filled out (see "Survey" page). The survey is offered in English, Vietnames, Spanish, Korean, and Japanese. The duration of the survey is approximately 30-40 minutes. We may also invite you to participate in a focus group or individual interviews. Each will take approximately 1 to 2 hours. Participation in either focus groups or interviews may lead to your participation for as long as 2 years. 

 

​​Participant Eligibility

  • 50 years or older

  • Living in the DMV (Virginia, Maryland, or DC area)

  • You can read, write, or speak English, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, or Spanish

  • You live in a community-based setting (i.e., not institutions such as hospitals, or nursing homes)

 

Please contact us if you are interested in participating or learning about our recent findings!

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