Abstract:
Agitation is one of the most common and distressing behavioral symptoms among older adults living in long-term care facilities, particularly among residents with cognitive impairment. Despite its clinical importance, limited research has examined how individual and facility-level factors jointly contribute to agitation among older Chinese residents in institutional settings. In this seminar, Dr. Wang will introduce the application of multilevel modeling to investigate agitation in long-term care facilities serving older Chinese adults. The presentation will discuss conceptual considerations in studying behavioral symptoms across nested care environments, methodological decisions in multilevel analysis, and challenges encountered when working with facility-based data. The study underscores the need for person-centered strategies that consider residents’ psychosocial needs, family engagement, and organizational support within long-term care settings.
Kaipeng Wang joined the University of Washington School of Social Work as an Associate Professor in January 2026. His research examines health disparities and mental health among older adults and diverse populations, including ethnically minoritized and immigrant communities. Dr. Wang’s work addresses end-of-life care planning, cognitive health, and social determinants of health, aiming to improve health equity and quality of life for aging populations.
