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.

Social Gerontology

Introduction to Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology of Aging I: Assessment

Clinical Psychology of Aging II: Interventions

Work: (314) 935-8212
Fax: (314) 935-7588
Alt: (314) 935-6173
E-mail: bcarpenter@wustl.edu

Carpenter, B. D., & Mulligan, E. (2009). Family, know thyself: A workbook-based intergenerational intervention to improve parent care coordination. Clinical Gerontologist, 32, 147-163.

Carpenter, B. D., Xiong, C., Porensky, E. K., Lee, M. M., Brown, P. J., Coats, M., Johnson, D., & Morris, J. C. (2008). Reaction to a dementia diagnosis in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(3), 405–412.

Carpenter, B. D., & Mak, W. (2007). Caregiving couples. Generations, 31, 47-53.

Carpenter, B. D., Kissel, E., & Lee, M. (2007). Preferences and perspectives of people with Alzheimer's disease: Reliability, stability, and proxy knowledge. Psychology and Aging, 22, 650-655.