Melissa Hunter

Melissa Hunter brings experience in elder care to her role as a researcher in RTI’s Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care Program. She provides technical assistance and qualitative research, including structured interviews, environmental scans, and policy analysis, for projects related to caring for people as they age, including those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She has a special interest in creating dementia-capable and age-friendly communities.

Currently, Ms. Hunter contributes to our work with the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center. She provides individualized technical assistance to grantees and develops reports for the Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living. She also serves as the technical assistance lead for the Independence at Home demonstration, funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She has contributed to projects focused on the direct care workforce, nursing home staffing regulations, and Older Americans Act funding.

Ms. Hunter joined RTI in 2020. She previously worked as a social worker at the Orange County Department on Aging in North Carolina and at an adult day health program.