Dr. Ying Ling Jao

Biography

Dr. Ying-Ling Jao is an Associate Professor at the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She has a PhD in Nursing from the University of Iowa, along with a Master of Science in Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences. Dr. Jao's research focuses on long-term care environments for dementia patients, specifically the assessment of non-pharmacological interventions to optimize these environments and improve care quality for nursing home residents. She developed the Person-Environment Apathy Rating (PEAR) scale, which is used by various research institutes internationally. Her funded research includes projects examining the impact of caregiver communication and the implementation of smart lighting interventions to support health among nursing home residents with dementia. In addition to her research, Dr. Jao teaches courses on gerontological nursing and environment-based nursing practices, and she actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in nursing. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to nursing education and research, including being named a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Jao's work emphasizes the importance of specialized care approaches within the context of dementia to enhance the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

Research Interests

Awards