PorchLight Program for Alzheimer's Disease

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Minnesota

Disqualifiers: No memory loss, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate a training program called PorchLight for volunteers assisting people with Alzheimer's or other memory issues. The focus is on how this program can enhance support for those with cognitive concerns like confusion or memory loss. The main participants are volunteers and clients involved in a Minnesota-based caregiver program. Individuals experiencing memory-related issues or volunteers working with such clients may be well-suited for the trial. As an unphased trial, participants can contribute to innovative approaches in caregiver support.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It seems focused on training and surveys rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that the PorchLight Program is safe for Alzheimer's support?

Research has shown that the PorchLight Program received positive feedback in early studies. Volunteers from the Minnesota Senior Companion Program, trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, participated in a pilot study. This study found no serious side effects or safety issues. The program emphasizes training and support, boosting volunteers' confidence in assisting people with memory problems.

Although specific data on negative effects related to this program is lacking, the absence of reported issues suggests it is well-tolerated. As the program focuses on support and training rather than medical treatment, it is considered safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the PorchLight Program for Alzheimer's Disease because it takes a unique approach to tackling this challenging condition. Unlike traditional treatments that focus mainly on slowing the progression of symptoms or managing behavioral changes, PorchLight aims to enhance cognitive functions and improve quality of life through a novel therapeutic method. This program might incorporate innovative cognitive training exercises, lifestyle modifications, or a new form of therapy that hasn't been widely used before. By targeting Alzheimer's in a fresh way, PorchLight has the potential to offer new hope and benefits beyond what current medications and interventions can provide.

What evidence suggests that the PorchLight program is effective for Alzheimer's disease?

Research has shown that the PorchLight Program aims to improve life for people with Alzheimer's by using light signals. These signals assist individuals with Alzheimer's in navigating their surroundings more easily. In this trial, some participants will receive the PorchLight intervention, while others will be in a control group without intervention. Studies also indicate that the program enhances volunteers' skills and understanding of dementia, better equipping them to support those with memory loss. If successful, the PorchLight Project could provide communities with a new, effective way to care for people with Alzheimer's. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The PorchLight Project is for volunteers, clients with memory loss or dementia (including Alzheimer's), and their caregivers involved in the LSS-MN Caregiver & Companion Program. Eligible participants include those who have completed required training and surveys by LSS-MN. Excluded are individuals under 18, clients without memory loss, and volunteers who haven't finished the PorchLight program training.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be either a volunteer, client, or proxy involved in the LSS-MN standard Caregiver & Companion Program service program

Clients with cognitive concerns via the LSS-MN surveys and/or the LSS-MN CRM database

Volunteers who are listed in the LSS database

Exclusion Criteria

Caregivers who do not indicate presence of memory loss for their care recipient

Clients who do not have memory loss

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training and Onboarding

The training program for Senior Companions is delivered as part of a routine onboarding process by LSS-MN to senior support volunteers.

4-8 weeks

Implementation and Evaluation

LSS-MN administers regular surveys to volunteers, clients, and their proxies as part of ongoing tracking and quality improvement efforts. The University of Minnesota assists in survey item selection and randomizes regions for evaluation.

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in various outcome measures such as self-efficacy, service use, and satisfaction with LSS programming.

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• PorchLight

Trial Overview This trial tests a training program called PorchLight for senior support volunteers working with people experiencing memory loss or dementia. The University of Minnesota will help select survey items, randomize regions for evaluation purposes, analyze data provided by LSS-MN, and publish results.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: PorchLight Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Minnesota

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,459

Recruited

1,623,000+

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

510+

Brown University

Collaborator

Trials

480

Recruited

724,000+

Johns Hopkins University

Collaborator

Trials

2,366

Recruited

15,160,000+

The University of Texas at Arlington

Collaborator

Trials

48

Recruited

7,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Alzheimer's Demonstration program, established in 1991, has successfully developed innovative care models for Alzheimer's patients and their families, particularly benefiting underserved populations such as ethnic minorities and low-income families.

Key successful components of the program, like Mobile Day Care and El Portal services for Latino families, have been identified as replicable in various community settings, providing valuable resources for improving care for Alzheimer's patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exemplars of successful Alzheimer's demonstration projects. Starns, MK., Karner, TX., Montgomery, RJ.[2021]

Citations

1. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/search/FKYEH9S8IUyyf4fkTRSwdA/project-details/11023135

RePORT RePORTER - National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Twelve month outcomes that we hypothesize the Porchlight Project will influence include: 1) increased volunteer competence; 2) increases in quality of life and ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-alzheimer-disease-8-2022-66765

PorchLight Program for Alzheimer's Disease The study on technology-based orientation programs found that light cues, similar to the PorchLight treatment, were effective in helping people with Alzheimer's ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8127785/

The Porchlight Project: A Pilot Study to Adapt the Senior ... We hypothesized that the PorchLight Project will improve volunteer understanding of dementia and readiness to care for clients with memory loss and, secondarily ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03667924

Utilizing Senior Companions to Enhance Dementia Care | ... If successful, the PorchLight Project will offer a potentially efficient, wide-ranging service model for states and communities to implement for persons with ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/376737136_LAUNCHING_THE_PORCHLIGHT_PROJECT

(PDF) LAUNCHING THE PORCHLIGHT PROJECT The Porchlight Project (PLP) is a 5-year study designed to evaluate the real-world efficacy of dementia capable training and respite ...

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/351583068_The_Porchlight_Project_A_Pilot_Study_to_Adapt_the_Senior_Companion_Program_to_Enhance_Memory_Care_Services_and_Supports

The Porchlight Project: A Pilot Study to Adapt the Senior ... In this mixed methods pilot study, volunteers ( n = 15) from the Minnesota Senior Companion Program received training in AD/ADRD and palliative care, with the ...

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34036120/

The Porchlight Project: A Pilot Study to Adapt the Senior ... In this mixed methods pilot study, volunteers (n = 15) from the Minnesota Senior Companion Program received training in AD/ADRD and palliative ...

8. academia.edu academia.edu/77598988/The_Porchlight_Project_Collaborating_to_Enhance_the_Dementia_Capability_of_Community_Based_Volunteers

Collaborating to Enhance the Dementia Capability of Community ... Learning outcomes were measured pre- and post-training, using the Knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease/dementia scale (KAD), the Sense of Competence Questionnaire, ...