Dr. Carpenter's research focuses on the clinical psychology of aging, with an emphasis on family relationships in late life. Recent work explores the ways family members work together to make decisions regarding older adults.

Other studies have examined whether adult children really know what their older parents want, including whether they can accurately predict an older parent's preferences for medical care, housing, transportation, social activities and end-of-life care.

Additional interests include doctor-older patient communication, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, hospice care, and death and dying.

Introduction to Psychology

Social Gerontology

Introduction to Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology of Aging I: Assessment

Clinical Psychology of Aging II: Interventions

Carpenter, B.D., & Mulligan, E.A. (2010). Assessment with late-life families: Issues and instruments. In P. Lichtenberg (Ed.), Handbook of assessment in clinical gerontology (2nd ed.) (pp. 273-306). San Diego: Elsevier.

Zaleta, A.K., & Carpenter, B.D. (2010). Patient-centered communication during the disclosure of a dementia diagnosis. American Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Other Dementias, 25, 513-520.

Carpenter, B.D., Zoller, S.M., Balsis, S., Otilingam, P.G., Gatz, M. (in press.) Demographic and contextual factors related to knowledge about Alzheimer's disease. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias.

Sakai, E.Y., & Carpenter, B.D. (in press). Linguistic features of power dynamics in triadic dementia diagnostic conversations. Patient Education and Counseling.

Campus Box 1125

One Brookings Drive

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO 63130

Work: (314) 935-8212
Fax: (314) 935-7588
Alt: (314) 935-6173

E-mail: bcarpenter@wustl.edu