Training for Elderly and Disabled Care

Overseen By Jesse Gubb, Research Manager, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

2500 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to determine if training home health workers in caregiving skills improves both the health of those they care for and the workers' job outcomes. Set within California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, the study focuses on elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients. Participants will either complete a 30-hour online course on key caregiving skills (IHSS Basic Training) or join a control group without training. This trial involves IHSS providers in San Bernardino County and their clients residing there. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the opportunity to contribute to valuable research that could enhance caregiving practices and improve outcomes for both caregivers and recipients.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this training is safe for IHSS workers and consumers?

Research has shown that high-quality training for home health workers, such as the IHSS Basic Training, is generally safe. This 30-hour online course covers essential caregiving skills, including personal care, infection control, and medication assistance. As an educational program rather than a medical treatment, it poses no physical side effects.

Studies have found that this type of training enhances caregivers' knowledge and skills without causing harm. By emphasizing safe practices, the training helps prevent accidents or mistakes in caregiving. Participants can therefore feel confident about their safety when enrolling in this training. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the IHSS Basic Training program because it offers a comprehensive, structured approach to caregiver education, which isn't typically available in current options for elderly and disabled care. Unlike standard caregiver training that may be informal or inconsistent, this program provides a 30-hour online course covering essential skills like personal care, infection control, nutrition, body mechanics, medication adherence, and home safety. The accessibility and breadth of this training aim to improve care quality and safety significantly, ultimately enhancing the well-being of those in need.

What evidence suggests that this training is effective for improving health and employment outcomes?

Research has shown that training for IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) workers can greatly improve their caregiving skills. In this trial, participants in the IHSS Basic Training arm will complete a 30-hour online course covering essential topics such as personal care, infection prevention, and medication adherence. One study found that training focused on specific skills helped caregivers better understand and care for patients with dementia. By teaching these skills, the training aims to improve the quality of care for elderly and disabled individuals. The goal is to enhance health outcomes for those receiving care and improve job prospects for caregivers. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matthew Notowidigdo, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Chicago

David Autor, Phd

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Amy Finkelstein, PhD

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Anna Russo

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for current IHSS providers who live in San Bernardino County, California. It's designed to see if training these caregivers can improve health and employment outcomes for themselves and the elderly or disabled individuals they care for.

Inclusion Criteria

You must reside in San Bernardino County.

Currently receiving services from IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services)

The person lives in San Bernardino County.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants in the treatment group complete a 30-hour online course teaching fundamental caregiving skills, including personal care, infection control, nutrition and body mechanics, medication adherence, and home safety.

4 weeks

Online course

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for health, healthcare, and labor market outcomes, including employment status, healthcare spending, and caregiving knowledge.

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• IHSS Basic Training

Trial Overview The study tests a 30-hour online course provided by CCA that covers caregiving skills like personal care, infection control, nutrition, medication adherence, and home safety. Participants are randomly placed into two groups: one receives the training while the other does not.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: IHSS Basic Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Individuals in the treatment group will be invited to participate in CCA's IHSS Basic training program. The program is a 30 hour online course for IHSS providers, which teaches fundamental caregiving skills. Training includes personal care, infection control, nutrition and body mechanics, medication adherence, and home safety.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

No intervention is delivered to the control group. The control group will be unable to access CCA's training programs for two years following random assignment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab

Lead Sponsor

Trials

31

Recruited

273,000+

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Collaborator

Trials

104

Recruited

12,810,000+

University of Chicago

Collaborator

Trials

1,086

Recruited

844,000+

Center for Caregiver Advancement

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

2,500+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In California, many in-home caregivers for older adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias lack proper training, which can impact the quality of care provided.

A training program developed for these caregivers showed significant improvements in their knowledge and self-rated skills, indicating that structured training can enhance caregiver competence and potentially improve care for elderly patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training for In-Home Supportive Services Caregivers in an Underserved Area. Guerrero, LR., Shim, A., Gans, D., et al.[2020]

The study highlights the unique challenges faced by unskilled in-home workers who care for frail elderly individuals, emphasizing the need for improved interpersonal skills in these roles.

The authors propose a typology of common interpersonal issues encountered by in-home workers and offer recommendations for training and supervision to enhance the effectiveness of care provided to elderly clients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The in-home worker: serving the frail elderly. Berger, RM., Anderson, S.[2019]

The IHSS + ADRD Training Project is a 10-week online training program designed to improve dementia care knowledge among IHSS caregivers in Alameda County.

Preliminary results show that caregivers who completed the training experienced significant increases in their knowledge about dementia and their confidence in providing care, highlighting the need for ongoing training initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Dementia Knowledge and Self-Efficacy of In-Home Supportive Services Caregivers Through Online Training. Yeh, J., Pond, B., Beld, M., et al.[2023]

A 2-hour educational program tailored for Vietnamese IHSS caregivers significantly improved their confidence and knowledge in personal care skills, as shown by pre- and post-survey results from 55 participants.

The culturally and language-specific approach of the training was effective, highlighting the importance of tailored education in enhancing caregiver skills for low-income older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Language-Specific Personal Care Education on Improving the Knowledge and Skills of Vietnamese American In-Home Supportive Service Caregivers. Vu, TH., Ju, E., Rousseau, J., et al.[2023]

Education and support services for families caring for frail elderly loved ones can significantly improve their coping abilities and reduce caregiver burden, as shown by the Neurological Sciences Center's programs over eight years.

The Education & Family Support Services (E&FSS) at Good Samaritan Hospital offers a variety of programs, including caregiver support groups and legal planning classes, which not only help families but also enhance the hospital's community image and generate revenue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

They are not alone: lending support to family care givers. Heagerty, B., Dunn, L., Watson, MA.[2004]

Training support workers in residential care to become 'Hearing Champions' is feasible and effective, as evidenced by the increased knowledge, skills, and confidence reported by the 14 participants who then trained 117 colleagues.

Support workers preferred training methods that were portable, adaptable, and interactive, highlighting the importance of engaging training formats in improving practices for assisting individuals with hearing impairments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"We forget about peoples' hearing loss": identifying key aspects of hearing aid and communication training in residential care homes. McShea, L., Ferguson, M.[2023]

A three-year interdisciplinary training program was implemented for students in internal medicine, social work, pharmacy, and nursing at a geriatrics clinic, emphasizing the importance of collaborative care in health settings.

The program is supported by evidence and expert recommendations, highlighting the growing recognition of interdisciplinary training as essential for improving health care delivery, especially in ambulatory contexts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching interdisciplinary geriatrics ambulatory care: a case study. Williams, BC., Remington, TL., Foulk, MA., et al.[2006]

Caregiver training for stroke patients significantly reduced health and social care costs by an average of £4043 (approximately $7249) over one year, primarily due to shorter hospital stays.

While caregiver training improved the overall quality of life for caregivers, it did not show measurable changes in quality-adjusted life years as assessed by the EQ-5D scale.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training care givers of stroke patients: economic evaluation. Patel, A., Knapp, M., Evans, A., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06205433

Evaluating the Impact of Training for IHSS Workers This trial investigates whether high-quality training for consumer-directed home health workers impacts health outcomes for care consumers and employment ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12179336/

Competency‐based training boosts dementia knowledge ... This study evaluated a multi‐week, competency‐based, online training for caregivers in California's Medicaid‐funded In‐Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-home-care-for-elderly-or-disabled-individuals-2024-a2315

Training for Elderly and Disabled Care The program is a 30 hour online course for IHSS providers, which teaches fundamental caregiving skills. Training includes personal care, infection control, ...

4. advancecaregivers.org advancecaregivers.org/pioneering-research-on-ihss-training/

Pioneering Research on IHSS Training This pioneering study aims to delve into both the caregiving and healthcare outcomes of the training, marking a significant step forward in workforce ...

5. advancecaregivers.org advancecaregivers.org/cca-celebrates-25-years-of-caregiver-training/

CCA Celebrates 25 Years of Caregiver Training All training aims to raise care methods to a higher standard. Students who complete the IHSS Essentials program can provide a higher standard of caregiving that ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06205433

Evaluating the Impact of Training for IHSS Workers This trial investigates whether high-quality training for consumer-directed home health workers impacts health outcomes for care consumers and employment ...

7. cdss.ca.gov cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss/training-academy

IHSS Training Academy We offer specialized courses designed to improve IHSS county staff's abilities in conducting individual assessments and authorizing IHSS services. Modules. This ...