In this Phase II SBIR project we will enhance a wireless WiFi-based insole that was designed and successfully tested during a Phase I trial with elderly persons with dementia and their caregivers, and then investigate its efficacy in terms of caregiver activity, burden, and quality of life in Phase II. Evaluation will use semi-structured interviews and participant observation data collected from professional and family caregivers of patients with moderate or mild dementia.
The efficacy of the Activlink system offering localization information to improve caregiver will be evaluated in two studies. Study 2a will use the insole system with dementia patients residing in skilled or memory care. Data regarding caregiving activity will be collected from their paid professional care providers. Study 2b will use participant localization data collected on 80 independently dwelling mild dementia patients. In this case data will be collected from their unpaid family caregivers. Both studies will result in evaluating the efficacy of the WiFi-based insole to provide caregivers with augmented patient awareness, helping to improve their immediate quality of life by reducing their direct burden of continuous oversight of their person in care.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
13
Dementia patients will wear the provided insole inserted into their own shoes. The insole will have a small electronic sensor that measures acceleration, foot force, and/or orientation.
Smartphone tool used for monitoring location
Oak Hammock Senior Living Center
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Unversity of Florida
Gainesville, Florida, United States
Caregiver Activity Survey
Validated scale requires caregivers to report on amount of time spent caregiving for a particular patient. It has high test-retest reliability. Caregivers will be asked to complete this instrument once every two weeks. The scale describes the total number of minutes spent daily on six different caregiving activities. Therefore the minimum value for each item is 0 and the maximum is 1,440 for each item. Higher scores on each item mean more time spent caregiving.
Time frame: week 2
Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale
This is validated instrument designed to reflect what people sometimes feel when taking care of another person. Caregivers will be asked to complete this instrument once every two weeks. Total score was calculated. Scores ranged from 0-48 with a higher score indicating greater caregiver burden.
Time frame: Up to 6 months
AD Quality of Life Scale
Assesses Caregiver quality of life with 13 questions rating from poor to excellent. Caregivers circle their responses. Caregivers will be asked to complete this instrument once every two weeks. Total score was calculated. Scores ranged from 13-52, with a higher score indicating better quality of life in caregivers.
Time frame: up to 6 months
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