Media contact: Hannah Echols, echols@uab.edu
Rita Jablonski, Ph.D.
School of Nursing
Areas of expertise:
- Elderly care
- Aging
- Dementia
- Nursing home safety for patients
- Oral health for the elderly
- Family caregiving
Jablonski is passionate about improving the lives of older adults — especially those with dementia — who reside in nursing homes. She has focused much of her research on changing the culture in nursing homes to ensure patients receive the best care.
Oral health is often hard to manage with dementia patients living in nursing homes because most patients resist treatment. Jablonski has developed and tested methods to reduce the threat perception from the patient using dementia-centric communication strategies. She also works with nursing home caregivers to help them improve care for patients with dementia.