Developed by the late Dr. Geri Hall and Dr. Kathleen "Kitty" Buckwalter, the PLST model was designed to educate formal and informal caregivers about the progression of dementia and associated behaviors to help inform plans of care.
Please reach out to csomay-center@uiowa.edu with any questions.
Available Resources
Below is a list of materials related to the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) model, including foundational research papers, a curated repository, and historical contributions from early PLST research.
Foundational Research Papers on the PLST Model
- Hall, G. R., & Buckwalter, K. C. (1987). Progressively lowered stress threshold: A conceptual model for care of adults with Alzheimer's disease. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 1(6), 399-406.
- Gerdner, L. A., Hall, G. R., & Buckwalter, K. C. (1996). Caregiver training for people with Alzheimer’s based on a stress threshold model. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 28(3), 241-246.
- Smith, M., Gerdner, L. A., Hall, G. R., & Buckwalter, K. C. (2004). History, development, and future of the progressively lowered stress threshold: A conceptual model for dementia care. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52(10):1755-1760.
Please contact csomay-center@uiowa.edu if you have difficulties accessing any of these papers.
Extended PLST Resource Repository
A curated collection of primarily published research related to the PLST model, including works by Dr. Geri Hall, Dr. Kathleen “Kitty” Buckwalter, and other scholars. The repository also includes select grey literature.
Click here to access the full repository
Library Archive of Dr. Kathleen “Kitty” Buckwalter’s Work
A searchable archive of Dr. Buckwalter’s scholarly contributions to geriatric mental health and dementia care is available via the university library.
Access Dr. Buckwalter's Library Archive
Historical Caregiver Document (1992–1997)
This document was developed as part of the NIH-funded study “PLST Model Effectiveness for Rural ADRD Caregivers” and has been archived as a historical resource.
Honoring Geri's Legacy
Dr. Geri Hall, PhD, RN, FAAN
Geri Hall was an exceptional nurse — a master educator and communicator, a keen observer, and an innovative clinician whose work transformed geriatric nursing and dementia care. She had a rare ability to teach across disciplines and levels, from CNAs to senior faculty, in both acute and long-term care settings. Internationally recognized, she was also a highly sought-after presenter and consultant.
Early in her career, Geri partnered with longtime mentor Dr. Kathleen “Kitty” Buckwalter (71BSN, 76MA), who chaired both her master's and doctoral programs. Together, they developed the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) model, now nationally recognized as an evidence-based approach that guides caregivers in understanding dementia progression and behavior.
“When her work was first coming out, this was at the beginning of the study of dementia. So really, her research was at the forefront of that,” said Kitty. “Her work is still cited and used all over the world and is as relevant today as it was when she developed it.” Kitty goes on to describe the PLST model as one of the few models nationally recognized as an evidence-based model for dementia.
According to Kitty, “I, like so many others, learned more from Geri than I ever taught her, and was lucky to call her friend and colleague. Although she will be missed, Geri has left a remarkable and lasting professional legacy.”
Webpage Last Updated 01.13.2026
The establishment and maintenance of the Geri Hall PLST Model Repository at the Csomay Center is generously funded by Dan Hall in honor of his wife, Geri Hall.