NCID-2671
Florence Johnson
Registered Nurse
University of Michigan School of Nursing
Education/Degree:
1 Nursing Nursing (University of Michigan)
About
I am a distinguished nurse and academic with a BSN from the University of Connecticut, an MSN/MHA from the University of Phoenix, and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Michigan. I am certified in Mixed Methods Research and a Registered Nurse in Michigan and Connecticut. My career spans various roles, including my current role as a clinical scholar & research fellow at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, Quality Improvement, and Director of Quality. My research focuses on the mental health of Black family caregivers of people with dementia. I received numerous awards, including a Distinguished Service Award from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing and an Excellence in Mentorship award from Sigma Theta Tau, Rho Chapter. I am a member of the American Nurses Association, Chi Eta Phi, and the National Black Nurses Association. I have also been active in committee service in leadership roles—a frequent presenter for the CT & MI Alzheimer's Association.
Current Work
My scholarship focuses on the mental health implications, specifically stress and depression, experienced by Black family caregivers providing care for community-dwelling individuals with dementia. It’s well-documented that family caregivers are the primary providers of dementia care, a responsibility that often leads to increased stress and negative health impacts. Our findings indicate that Black caregivers experience higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to their White counterparts, although stress levels and CSS usage appear to be similar across both groups. These results have been validated through focus group discussions, which further highlighted financial constraints and lack of free time as significant barriers to CSS usage among this population. Looking ahead, my future work aims to explore strategies to enhance the engagement of these caregivers with available services and advocate for policy improvements that better support Black caregivers.
Research Area Keyword(s)
Black Caregivers, dementia, mental health, support services