Gabriela will be a key part in identifying the innovations we see in groundbreaking research and translating this knowledge to private industry and policymakers.
WASHINGTON (PRWEB) September 11, 2019
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to research and advocacy on behalf of family caregivers, has named Gabriela Prudencio, M.A., M.B.A. as its inaugural Hunt Research Director. As the Hunt Research Director, Prudencio brings a forward-looking approach to the position. She will be responsible for directing NAC research studies, including the Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 study with AARP, and for supporting the release of 2019 research on “sandwich caregivers” and research on caregivers of people with IBD (autoimmune-related GI conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis). Prudencio will also develop a cross-discipline research collaborative to share knowledge across the realms of aging, long-term care, disability, pediatrics, and patient advocacy.
NAC established the Hunt Research Director to honor founding president and CEO, Gail Gibson Hunt, who developed a legacy of caregiving research for the field, including the Caregiving in the U.S. research series that was developed in partnership with AARP beginning in 1997. Hunt commissioned nearly 40 research studies on caregiving and participated in national initiatives, including serving as a member of the policy committee of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. She continues to advocate for caregivers and is currently on the Board of Directors at the Long-Term Care Quality Alliance and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
“It’s no easy task to bridge the gaps facing caregiving families across the aging, disability, and pediatric fields,” said C. Grace Whiting, President/CEO of NAC. “Gabriela will be a key part in identifying the innovations we see in groundbreaking research and translating this knowledge to private industry and policymakers. Her global experience also allows us to better identify how the best practices implemented by our international partners could be adapted to American caregivers.”
In her previous work at the AARP Foundation and the Economic Policy Institute, Prudencio developed national research studies in the areas of nutrition, income, housing, and job security. Projects included studying the dietary habits of multi-generational households. Prudencio has also conducted research internationally, focusing on various agricultural sectors in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Southern and Eastern Africa.
As a former caregiver for her grandparents, Prudencio is excited to put her skills to work. “I’ve had the privilege of conducting interviews with caregivers in my previous work and I understand the challenges they face,” she said. “It is important to connect the social science that identifies the needs and solutions for caregivers with policy and advocacy efforts that can improve the lives of families.”
Prudencio holds an MBA from Georgetown University, MA from George Mason University and BA from the University of Virginia.
Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy. The Alliance conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. Recognizing that family caregivers provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those they care for, the Alliance supports a network of more than 80 state and local caregiving coalitions and serves as Secretariat for the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO). Learn more at http://www.caregiving.org.