Obtaining IRB approval for research involving elderly persons with dementia can be challenging. IRBs are concerned with protecting vulnerable populations, including cognitively impaired older adults. Although the complexities surrounding both the recruitment and consent of such individuals are well established, few guidelines exist for researchers preparing IRB applications to study such individuals. As part of the SUNY Network Aging Partnership (SNAP), Stony Brook has partnered with three

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... SUNY medical campuses to investigate the relationship between dementia and frailty. Stony Brook was the first site to submit its IRB application but was deferred for more detailed information on recruitment and consent procedures. To address IRB concerns, several strategies were implemented. First, key study staff met on multiple occasions to map out each step of the recruitment and consent process. Due to the complicated nature of these processes, flow charts depicting potential scenarios (e.g., someone is too cognitively impaired to provide consent) and possible solutions (e.g., alternative options for obtaining consent) were developed. The identification of such scenarios not only resulted in subsequent IRB approval but also assisted study staff later during study implementation. Such strategies may help others preparing IRB applications for research with cognitively impaired older adults. Community-based services are important for improving outcomes for individuals with dementia and their caregivers; however, access to dementia-specific services in rural and remote areas is a global challenge. The purpose of this study was to determine the (1) availability of 43 rural dementiarelated services across the continuum of care in the Canadian