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Profile

Alexis Bender

  • Department of Medicine
    Associate Professor
  • alexis.bender@emory.edu
Head shot of Alexis Bender

Overview

Dr. Alexis Bender, Associate Professor of Medicine, is a medical sociologist and social gerontologist based in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Dr. Bender completed her PhD in Sociology with a concentration in family, health, and the life course and an interdisciplinary certificate in gerontology from Georgia State University. Following her graduate work, Dr. Bender worked with the Army Public Health Center in Maryland conducting mixed methods research and evaluation of social and behavioral health among active duty soldiers and their families (e.g. behavioral health access, suicide, violence). Her research focuses on aging with disability and chronic disease with an emphasis on relationships over the life course, including patient-provider interactions and social and intimate relationships. Her research continues to explore the psychosocial aspects of disability and chronic disease management for patients, health professionals, and families over time. Dr. Bender is a Fellow of the Southern Gerontological Society, the past chair of the Disability and Society Section of the American Sociological Association, and an alumni of the UCSD Sustained Training in Aging & HIV Research (STAHR) Program (R25MH108389).

Academic Appointment

  • Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University

Education

Degrees

  • PhD, Sociology from Georgia State University
  • M.A., Sociology from Georgia State University

Research

Publications

  • "I Don't Wake Up Completely": Older Adults' Trade-Offs Between Nighttime Ambulation Safety and Sleep Quality.
    J Am Geriatr Soc
    04/11/2025 Authors: Jing ZY; Johnson TM; Bender AA
  • Differing Realities Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Understanding Care Partner Responses.
    Gerontologist Volume: 65
    04/09/2025 Authors: Kemp CL; Anglin E; Morgan JC; Perkins MM; Burgess EO; Bender AA
  • "The Heart of the Center": Exploring the Role of the Patient Care Technician in US Dialysis Care.
    Kidney Med Volume: 7 Page(s): 100934
    01/01/2025 Authors: Urbanski M; Blythe E; Hamblin A; Bender AA; Hoge C; Douglas-Ajayi C; Rickenbach F; Joseph J; Damron KC; Morgan JC
  • A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the NIH Emotions Toolbox Among People Living with HIV and Who May Use Methamphetamine.
    AIDS Behav Volume: 29 Page(s): 55 - 63
    01/01/2025 Authors: Bender AA; Moore DJ; Perkins MM; Hunt R; Haardrfer R
  • Dementia Care Among United States Dialysis Providers: A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Clinician Comfort and Knowledge.
    Kidney Med Volume: 6 Page(s): 100884
    10/01/2024 Authors: Bender AA; Urbanski M; Morgan JC; Hoge C; Joseph J; Damron KC; Douglas-Ajayi C; Rickenbach F; Jaar BG; Sheshadri A
  • Resident and Caregiver Dyads Talk About Death and Dying in Assisted Living: A Typology of Communication Behaviors.
    Am J Hosp Palliat Care Volume: 41 Page(s): 1011 - 1017
    09/01/2024 Authors: Vandenberg AE; Bender AA; Kemp CL; Perkins MM
  • Engaging partners, lay persons, and learners through effective marketing and messaging.
    J Am Geriatr Soc Volume: 72 Suppl 3 Page(s): S43 - S46
    08/01/2024 Authors: Johnson TM; Freiji J; Moore MA; Bender AA; Munroe D; Geresu H; Baxter GG; Epps F; Taylor LF; Bussey-Jones J
  • Barriers to Community Service Use Among Persons With Dementia and Their Care Partners: A Focus on Consumers of a Novel Statewide Dementia Care Program.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 43 Page(s): 612 - 622
    05/01/2024 Authors: Bender AA; Pier E; Moore M; Jungerman J; Davis A; Perkins MM
  • Patient Care Technician Staffing and Outcomes Among US Patients Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis.
    JAMA Netw Open Volume: 7 Page(s): e241722
    03/04/2024 Authors: Plantinga LC; Bender AA; Urbanski M; Douglas-Ajayi C; Morgan JC; Woo K; Jaar BG
  • Patient Care Technician Staffing in US Hemodialysis Facilities: An Ecological Study.
    Kidney Med Volume: 6 Page(s): 100782
    03/01/2024 Authors: Plantinga LC; Urbanski M; Hoge C; Rickenbach F; Douglas-Ajayi C; Morgan JC; Bender AA; Jaar BG
  • "Just Join Them": Improv and Dementia Care.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 43 Page(s): 302 - 309
    03/01/2024 Authors: Kemp CL; Craft Morgan J; Bender AA; Hill AM; Anglin E; Burgess EO; Epps F; Perkins MM
  • Facilitators and Barriers to PrEP Acceptability and Initiation Among Opioid Treatment Program Patients and Staff.
    AIDS Educ Prev Volume: 36 Page(s): 60 - 72
    02/01/2024 Authors: Chan K; Mitchell MM; Casselle E; Bender AA
  • Latent class analysis of perceived stigma among older adults receiving medications for opioid use disorder.
    J Subst Use Addict Treat Volume: 156 Page(s): 209187
    01/01/2024 Authors: Mitchell MM; Angelo S; Akinwolere OG; Perkins MM; Bender AA
  • Turning It Over to God: African American Assisted Living Residents' End-of-Life Preferences and Advance Care Planning.
    J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Volume: 78 Page(s): 1747 - 1755
    10/09/2023 Authors: Kemp CL; Skipper AD; Bender AA; Perkins MM
  • Professional Fulfillment, Burnout, and Turnover Intention Among US Dialysis Patient Care Technicians: A National Survey.
    Am J Kidney Dis Volume: 82 Page(s): 22 - 32.e1
    07/01/2023 Authors: Plantinga LC; Rickenbach F; Urbanski M; Hoge C; Douglas-Ajayi C; Morgan JC; Bender AA; Jaar BG
  • Understanding Capacity and Optimizing Meaningful Engagement among Persons Living with Dementia.
    Dementia (London) Volume: 22 Page(s): 854 - 874
    05/01/2023 Authors: Kemp CL; Bender AA; Morgan JC; Burgess EO; Epps FR; Hill AM; Perkins MM
  • NIH Toolbox Emotion Battery Findings Among People with HIV: Normative Comparisons and Clinical Associations.
    Patient Relat Outcome Meas Volume: 14 Page(s): 15 - 30
    01/01/2023 Authors: Brody LA; Kamalyan L; Karcher K; Guarena LA; Bender AA; McKenna BS; Umlauf A; Franklin D; Marquine MJ; Heaton RK
  • Work Experiences of the Interdisciplinary Dialysis Workforce in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
    Am J Nephrol Volume: 54 Page(s): 145 - 155
    01/01/2023 Authors: Plantinga LC; Bender AA; Urbanski M; Hoge C; Joseph J; Damron KC; Douglas-Ajayi CJ; Rickenbach F; Morgan JC; Jaar BG
  • "You gotta have your cry": Administrator and direct care worker experiences of death in assisted living.
    J Aging Stud Volume: 63 Page(s): 101072
    12/01/2022 Authors: Bender AA; Kemp CL; Vandenberg AE; Burgess EO; Perkins MM
  • YES, AND...ENHANCING DEMENTIA CARE COMPETENCY THROUGH IMPROVISATIONAL THEATRE TECHNIQUES
    Volume: 6 Page(s): 755 - 756
    11/01/2022 Authors: Kemp C; Morgan JC; Hill A; Pullon E; Burgess E; Perkins M; Bender A
  • RESILIENCY AS A PROCESS: A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION INTO US VETERANS' EXPERIENCES AGING WITH HIV
    Volume: 6 Page(s): 793 - 794
    11/01/2022 Authors: Chan K; Bender A; Marconi V; Justice A; Johnson T; McInnes K; Perkins M
  • ASSESSING THE NIH TOOLBOX EMOTION BATTERY AMONG PEOPLE AGING WITH HIV AND WHO USE METHAMPHETAMINES
    Volume: 6 Page(s): 844 - 844
    11/01/2022 Authors: Bender A; Cooper HLF; Moore D; Perkins M; Haardoerfer R
  • LONELINESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS APPROACHING END OF LIFE
    Volume: 6 Page(s): 782 - 783
    11/01/2022 Authors: Arthur C; Bender A; Perkins M
  • Concern About Past Trauma Among Nursing Home Admissions: Report From Screening 722 Admissions.
    J Am Med Dir Assoc Volume: 23 Page(s): 1499 - 1502
    09/01/2022 Authors: Bender AA; Chozom T; Saiyed SA
  • Feasibility, acceptability, and short-term impact of a brief sexually transmitted infection intervention targeting U.S. Military personnel and family members.
    BMC Public Health Volume: 22 Page(s): 640
    04/02/2022 Authors: Kunz A; Moodley A; Colby DJ; Soltis M; Robb-McGrath W; Fairchok A; Faestel P; Jungels A; Bender AA; Kamau E
  • The Georgia Memory Net: Implementation of a statewide program to diagnose and treat Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
    J Am Geriatr Soc Volume: 70 Page(s): 1257 - 1267
    04/01/2022 Authors: Bender AA; McIntosh RL; Sudduth S; Harris M; Tuckey K; Morgan JC; Jungerman JM; Cox A; Moore MA; Ingram B
  • Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Being Out in the World and Negotiating Connections.
    Gerontologist Volume: 62 Page(s): 200 - 211
    02/09/2022 Authors: Ciofi JM; Kemp CL; Bender AA
  • Assisted Living Administrators' Approaches to Advance Care Planning.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 41 Page(s): 391 - 400
    02/01/2022 Authors: Abken ES; Perkins MM; Bender AA
  • "It's Going to be Different for Everyone": Negotiating Quality of Life and Care Priorities Within Care Convoys.
    J Aging Health Volume: 34 Page(s): 602 - 613
    01/01/2022 Authors: Burgess EO; Kemp CL; Bender AA
  • Meaningful Engagement Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Successful Approaches.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 40 Page(s): 1751 - 1757
    12/01/2021 Authors: Kemp CL; Bender AA; Ciofi J; Craft Morgan J; Burgess EO; Duong S; Epps FR; Hill AM; Manley PR; Sease J
  • Examining the effects of modified recreational activities on the mental health of nursing home residents during COVID-19
    Volume: 69 Page(s): S174 - S174
    04/01/2021 Authors: EL Sheikh HH; Roy H; Bender AA; Oh H
  • Getting to know our patients through the lens of Trauma Informed Care
    Volume: 69 Page(s): S68 - S68
    04/01/2021 Authors: Chozom T; Sayed SA; Bender AA
  • Barriers and Facilitators to Exercise Participation Among Frail Older African American Assisted Living Residents.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 40 Page(s): 268 - 277
    03/01/2021 Authors: Bender AA; Halpin SN; Kemp CL; Perkins MM
  • Getting to Know Our Patients Through the Lens of Trauma Informed Care.
    J Am Med Dir Assoc Volume: 22 Page(s): B12
    03/01/2021 Authors: Saiyed S; Chozom T; Saiyed S; Bender A
  • Examining the Effects of Modified Recreational Activities on the Mental Health of Nursing Home Residents During COVID-19.
    Volume: 22 Page(s): B12
    03/01/2021 Authors: ELSheikh H; ELSheikh H; Oh H; Bender A; Roy H
  • GENDER DIFFERENCES IN WELL-BEING AMONG PEOPLE AGE >= 50 IN MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER
    Volume: 5 Page(s): 287 - 287
    01/01/2021 Authors: Angelo S; Mitchell M; Perkins M; Bender A
  • WHERE'S THE BAR? ALCOHOL AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT AMONG ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA
    Volume: 5 Page(s): 287 - 288
    01/01/2021 Authors: Bender A; Kemp C; Burgess E
  • MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT OF RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA IN ASSISTED LIVING: THE ROLE OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS
    Volume: 5 Page(s): 253 - 253
    01/01/2021 Authors: Morgan JC; Ciofi J; Kemp C; Hill A; Bender A
  • ASSISTED LIVING ADMINISTRATORS' VIEWS OF PALLIATIVE CARE
    Volume: 5 Page(s): 899 - 899
    01/01/2021 Authors: Abken E; Perkins M; Bender A
  • The Current State of HIV and Aging: Findings Presented at the 10th International Workshop on HIV and Aging.
    AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses Volume: 36 Page(s): 973 - 981
    12/01/2020 Authors: Shiau S; Bender AA; O'Halloran JA; Sundermann E; Aggarwal J; Althoff KN; Baker JV; Deeks S; Fried LP; Karpiak S
  • Optimizing Quality of Life With Cognitive Impairment: A Study of End-of-Life Care in Assisted Living.
    Volume: 21 Page(s): 692 - 696
    05/01/2020 Authors: Arneson L; Bender AA; Robert MN; Perkins MM
  • Promoting Trauma-Informed Care through Standardized Screening and Training
    JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY Volume: 70 Page(s): S39 - S40
    04/01/2020 Authors: Gambhir S; Bender AA; Saiyed S
  • Isolation, Loneliness, and Psychological Distress Among African American Assisted Living Residents Approaching End of Life
    Volume: 70 Page(s): S269 - S270
    04/01/2020 Authors: Arthur CB; Bender AA; Perkins MM
  • Constructing Recovery Narratives: Experiences and Expectations Following Spinal Cord Injury.
    Rehabil Nurs Volume: 45 Page(s): 254 - 262
    01/01/2020 Authors: Bender AA; Burgess EO
  • Negotiating the Lack of Intimacy in Assisted Living: Resident Desires, Barriers, and Strategies.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 39 Page(s): 28 - 39
    01/01/2020 Authors: Bender AA; Burgess EO; Barmon C
  • Improving Antibiotic Stewardship Program Educational Materials in the Long Term Care Setting
    Volume: 67 Page(s): S34 - S34
    04/01/2019 Authors: Smyth A; Fridkin S; Saiyed S; Sefton S; Bender A
  • "That Is So Common Everyday . . . Everywhere You Go": Sexual Harassment of Workers in Assisted Living.
    J Appl Gerontol Volume: 37 Page(s): 397 - 418
    04/01/2018 Authors: Burgess EO; Barmon C; Moorhead JR; Perkins MM; Bender AA
  • Understanding Sexual Freedom and Autonomy in Assisted Living: Discourse of Residents' Rights Among Staff and Administrators.
    J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Volume: 72 Page(s): 457 - 467
    05/01/2017 Authors: Barmon C; Burgess EO; Bender AA; Moorhead JR
  • A mixed methods epidemiological investigation of preventable deaths among U.S. Army soldiers assigned to a rehabilitative warrior transition unit.
    Work Volume: 50 Page(s): 21 - 36
    01/01/2015 Authors: Gallaway MS; Lagana-Riordan C; Dabbs CR; Bell MR; Bender AA; Fink DS; Forys-Donahue K; Pecko JA; Schmissrauter SC; Perales R
  • "NOT MY MOTHER:" CHALLENGES OF INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNICATION ABOUT SEX AND INTIMACY IN ASSISTED LIVING
    GERONTOLOGIST Volume: 51 Page(s): 632 - 632
    11/01/2011 Authors: Burgess EO; Bender AA; Barmon CE; Xavier-Brier M
  • COMBINED INFLUENCE OF ELEVATED PULSE PRESSURE AND APOE epsilon 4 ALLELE EXACERBATES AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN EPISODIC MEMORY
    Volume: 50 Page(s): 282 - 282
    10/01/2010 Authors: Bender A; Raz N
  • NOT SO HAPPILY EVER AFTER: EXPLORING LONELINESS, SEXUAL COMPETITION AND CONFLICT IN ASSISTED LIVING
    Volume: 50 Page(s): 278 - 278
    10/01/2010 Authors: Burgess EO; Bender AA; Kemp CL; Barmon CE
  • 'ONLY TIME WILL TELL': CONSTRUCTING NARRATIVES ABOUT MARRIAGE, DISABILITY, AND FAMILY FOLLOWING SPINAL CORD INJURY
    Volume: 49 Page(s): 198 - 198
    10/01/2009 Authors: Bender AA
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