MSU Dementia Care and Support Lab

The Spartan Healthy Aging and Caregiving Office — also known as the MSU Dementia Care and Support Lab — is a service lab run through Michigan State University’s School of Social Work. Staffed by trained Master of Social Work interns, it exists to fill a social-service gap for older adults and the families caring for them, with a particular focus on dementia.

The office serves older adults living with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia, as well as the family caregivers who support them. Its offerings include individual consultations, support group sessions, educational programs, and a library of dementia-care video resources. A distinguishing feature is its commitment to culturally tailored care: services are designed to be sensitive to the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of the families it serves, which can make a meaningful difference for communities that are often underserved by mainstream programs.

For Michigan caregivers, this resource matters because dementia caregiving is uniquely demanding, and early guidance can change the trajectory of the entire journey. Connecting with the lab gives families a knowledgeable, no-cost point of contact to learn what to expect, build coping strategies, and find community with others facing similar challenges. Because the office is academic and intern-staffed, it pairs current best practices with a compassionate, learning-oriented environment. Caregivers can explore the office’s video resources and support sessions through its website and reach out for contact information to begin a consultation.