Kristine Nordlie Williams, RN, PhD, APRN, BC, FGSA

Associate Professor

Email: kwilliams1@kumc.edu
(913) 588-1624

A faculty member since 2001, Dr. Williams’ research program focuses on improving nursing care for older adults who require support in long term care settings, specifically focused on communication, cognition, and caregiving issues. Dr. Williams is currently funded by the National Institutes of Nursing Research and Aging in support of a study, “Elderspeak: Impact on Dementia Care”, using Behavioral and Psycholinguistic analyses of video recorded caregiving interactions to determine the impact of nursing staff elderspeak communication on problem behaviors of care recipients with dementia.

Dr. Williams has completed two years as a BIRCWH (Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health) K12 Scholar at KUMC.  As a BIRCWH fellow, Dr. Williams initiated research focusing on interventions to promote successful cognitive and functional health and effective communication for older adult residents of assisted living facilities. Two cognitive interventions, Reasoning Exercises in Assisted Living (REAL) and Memory Exercises in Assisted Living (MEAL) have been pilot tested.

Recent Publications:

• Williams, K., Herman, R., Gajewski, B., & Wilson, K. (2008, in press). Elderspeak communication: Impact on dementia care. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, to appear in Oct./Nov. issue.
• Williams, K. (2008, in press). Reasoning exercises in assisted living (REAL): A feasibility study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, special issue on Psychogerontological Nursing ,29. 1-20.
• Williams, K., & Warren, C., (2008, in press). Assisted living and the aging trajectory. Journal of Women and Aging, 20 (3/4).
• Warren, C., & Williams, K., (2008, in press). Interviewing residents in assisted living. Qualitative Sociology.
• Williams, K. , & Warren, C., (2009, in press). Communication in assisted living. The Journal of Aging Studies, 23, 1.
• Cunningham, J. & Williams, K. (2007). Case study of resistiveness to care and elderspeak communication. Research and Theory in Nursing Practice; An International Journal, 21, 45-56.
• Bonnel, W. & Williams, K. (2007).  Gerontological Nursing. In K. Markides (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Health and Aging, Sage, NY.
• Williams, K. (2006). Improving outcomes of nursing home interactions.  Research in Nursing and Health, 29, 121-133.
• Williams, K., Nowak, J., & Scobee, R. (2006). Fostering student interest in geriatric nursing: Impact of senior long term care experiences, Nursing Education Perspectives, 27, 190-3.\
• Williams, K. (2004). Elderspeak: Impact on geriatric care. Geriatrics and Aging, 7, 57- 60.
• Williams, K., Kemper, S., & Hummert, M.L., (2004). Enhancing communication with older adults: Overcoming elderspeak, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 30, 1-10.
• Williams, K., Kemper, S., & Hummert, M.L., (2003). Improving nursing home communication:An intervention to reduce elderspeak., The Gerontologist, 43, 242-247.

Biosketch

In the News

ABC News: 'Baby Talk' Irritates Alzheimer's Patients

Walt Bodine 8-18-2008

In 'Sweetie' and 'Dear,' a Hurt for the Elderly - NYTimes.com

I'm Not A Baby! Video - CBSNews.com