PhD Students

Kelly Parsons

Education

Master’s in Social Work, Salem State College
Bachelor’s in Social Work, University of Kentucky

Teaching Interests

  • Aging
  • Social Work Practice

Research Interests

  • Dementia Caregiving
  • Loneliness in the older individuals
  • Early biological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Publications

  • Bardach, S. H., Parsons, K., Gibson, A., & Jicha, G. A. (2020). “From victimhood to warriors”: Super-researchers’ insights into Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial participation motivations. The Gerontologist, 60(4), 693-703.
  • Bardach, S.H., Gibson, A., Parsons, K., Stauffer, A., & Jicha, G. A. (2021). Rural caregivers: Identification of informational needs through telemedicine questions. Journal of Rural Health, 37(2), 406–411. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12431

Conference Presentations

  • Parsons, K., Barber, J., Jicha, G. (2019, July). An exploratory study of a support group for people diagnosed with preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Parsons, K., Gibson, A., Bardach, S., Barber, J., Johnson, J., & Jicha, G. (2020, July). Self efficacy of ADRD caregivers: Results of a pilot study. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, virtual.
  • Parsons, K., Barber, J., Gibson, A., & Jicha, G. (2022, November). Starting the conversation: Findings from an advance care directive workshop. Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.

Bio

Since graduating from her MSW, Kelly has been working with the older adults. For more than 15 years, she has focused on caregiver advocacy and supporting individuals diagnosed with dementia. At present, Kelly is a social worker at Sanders-Brown Center on Aging with the University of Kentucky.