Connect-Home for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

(CH-ADRD Trial)

Overseen By Kathryn Wessell, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Disqualifiers: Planned hospital readmission, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

360 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study is a parallel arm, cluster randomized trial (CRT) to test the efficacy of Connect-Home ADRD, a transitional care intervention focusing on Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementias and their caregivers during transitions from SNFs to home, assisted, living, and long-term care. The primary hypothesis is that the intervention will reduce caregiver strain (Aim 1) and patient neuropsychiatric symptoms (Aim 2).

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

How is the Connect-Home ADRD treatment different from other treatments for Alzheimer's and dementia?

Connect-Home ADRD is unique because it focuses on improving communication and support between caregivers and the home health care team, which can enhance outcomes for patients with Alzheimer's and dementia. This approach is different from traditional treatments that primarily focus on medication or direct patient care. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Connect-Home ADRD for Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia?

The Connect-Home ADRD treatment is being adapted to meet the unique needs of people with dementia and their caregivers, and it has shown promise in reducing re-hospitalization rates after leaving skilled nursing facilities. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mark Toles, PhD, RN

Principal Investigator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias who are transitioning from Skilled Nursing Facilities to home or other care settings. Caregivers of these patients are also involved. Specific eligibility details aren't provided, so it's best to contact the study team for more information.

Inclusion Criteria

SNFs must be located within 120 miles of UNC-Chapel Hill

Patients must have a diagnosis of dementia

Patients must have a caregiver willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria

I am scheduled to be readmitted to the hospital for a procedure or treatment within 30 days after joining.

Caregivers who are court-appointed guardians

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Support for SNF staff delivery of transitional care processes and support for patients and caregivers by the Dementia Caregiving Specialist

30 days

3 follow-up supportive telephone calls

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for caregiver strain and patient neuropsychiatric symptoms after discharge

30 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Connect-Home ADRD

Trial Overview The Connect-Home ADRD intervention is being tested in this study. It aims to support patients with dementia and their caregivers during the transition from nursing facilities back into home care or other living arrangements.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Connect-Home ADRD Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Connect-Home ADRD Intervention will include: 1. Support for SNF staff delivery of transitional care processes including a ADRD transition plan and booklet, caregiver training and engagement, and handoff of care to community providers and Dementia Caregiving Specialist. 2. Support for patients and caregivers provided by the Dementia Caregiving Specialist in three follow-up supportive telephone calls within 30 days of SNF discharge.

Group II: Standard Care - Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Patient and caregiver dyad randomized to the control arm will receive usual SNF and post-discharge care.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Collaborator

Trials

623

Recruited

10,400,000+

Citations

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical and Demographic Profiles of Home Care Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Implications for Information Transfer Across Care Settings. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adapting the Connect-Home transitional care intervention for the unique needs of people with dementia and their caregivers: A feasibility study. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home health utilization association with discharge to community for people with dementia. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Catalyzing dementia care through the learning health system and consumer health information technology. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Free-Text Documentation of Dementia Symptoms in Home Healthcare: A Natural Language Processing Study. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevalence and predictors of incident ADRD diagnosis following a Medicare home health episode. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pain treatment and functional improvement in home health care: Relationship with dementia. [2021]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pain Management in Home Health Care: Relationship With Dementia and Facility Admissions. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Care for Me, Too": A Novel Framework for Improved Communication and Support Between Dementia Caregivers and the Home Health Care Team. [2023]