Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease or Memory Problem Patients, Caregiver Wellbeing, Elder Abuse
Conditions
Keywords
elder mistreatment, caregiver wellness, Dementia care
Brief summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to test a risk assessment screening and intervention for caregivers of people with dementia. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What are the harms and benefits of administering the elder abuse risk assessment screening? 2. What are the harms and benefits of administering the caregiver intervention? Researchers will compare participants who receive the screening and caregiver intervention to a group who does not receive the caregiver intervention and a group who receives neither the screening or the caregiver intervention to answer these questions. Participants will: * Complete two surveys, three months apart * Complete a 5-item screening tool, if assigned to one of the screening groups * Complete a 3-session caregiver intervention, if assigned to that group
Detailed description
This study aims to address the issue of elder mistreatment which affects one in ten older adults, and is particularly prevalent among those with dementia, where rates can reach 50%. In this randomized study, caregivers are assigned to different study groups so researchers can evaluate outcomes across varying levels of support. The project examines how structured assessment and caregiver-focused education influence caregiver stress, decision-making, and overall care dynamics, with the broader aim of informing scalable prevention strategies within primary care systems
Interventions
BEHAVIORALRisk Assessment Screening
A five question tool that can be delivered verbally or through written self-administration.
BEHAVIORALCoach and Website Intervention
A three-session community health worker intervention, including a caregiver information website.
Sponsors
University of Southern California
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years old or older * Speak English or Spanish * Caregiver for a person with Alzheimer's Disease or another type of dementia * Provide substantial care for this person, defined as assisting with at least one activity of daily living or two instrumental activities of daily living * See this person at least twice a week * Have access to the internet
Exclusion criteria
* Under 18 years old * Speak language besides English or Spanish * Caregiver for person who does not have dementia * Do not provide substantial care for this person * Primary relationship between caregiver and person with dementia is that of a professional paid caregiver * Enrolled in another caregiver study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver Burden | Enrollment to three months | Measured by Zarit Burden Interview-6 scores (6-24) |
| Caregiver Stress About Care Receiver Behavioral Symptoms | Enrollment to three months | Measured by Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire scores (0-60) |
| Caregiver Depression Symptoms | Enrollment to three months | Measured through Patient Health Questionnaire-8 score (0-24) . |
| Caregiver Anxiety Symptoms | Enrollment to three months | Measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 screening tool score (0-21) . |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Elder Mistreatment | Enrollment to three months | Measured using combined and modified Geriatric Mistreatment Scale and Older Adult Conflict Scale (0-19) |
| Healthcare Use of Person Living with Demenita | Enrollment to three months | Count of each emergency department, hospitalization, and outpatient medical visits. |
| Dementia Knowledge | Enrollment to three months | Measured using Dementia Attitudes Scale scores (0-36) |
| Caregiver Self Efficacy | Enrollment to three months | Measured using Self-Efficacy for Caregiving scores (8-40) |
| Resilience | Enrollment to three months | Measured using modified Brief Resilience Scale scores (6-24) |
| Elder Abuse Knowledge | Enrollment to three months | Measured using survey questions from previous UK study, with summary scores ranging from 15 to 75 (higher numbers indicating higher understanding of elder abuse). |
| Stress | Enrollment to three months | Measured using the Perceived Stress Scale scores (0-40) |
| Emotional Regulation | Enrollment to three months | Measured using modified Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (4-16) |
| Anger | Enrollment to three months | Measured using the Dimensions of Anger Reactions scale (5-25) |
| Hopelessness | Enrollment to three months | Measured using modified Beck Hopelessness Inventory scores (7-28) |
| Social Support | Enrollment to three months | Measured using Duke/UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire scores (8-40) |
| Coping | Enrollment to three months | Measured using count of adaptive (0-18) and maladaptive (0-4) coping methods on novel measure |
| Positive Aspects of Caregiving | Enrollment to three months | Measured using Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale scores (6-24) |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBonnie Olsen, PhD
University of Southern California
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORLaura Mosqueda, MD
University of Southern California
Outcome results
None listed