FallsTalk Falls Prevention Program for Caregivers and Persons With Memory Loss or Dementia

Brookside Research & Development Company100 enrolled

Overview

This randomized-control trial involves dyads consisting of a family caregiver (CG) and a person with memory loss or dementia (PwD). The FallsTalk Caregiver Resource System (FT-C) intervention is administered by the CG, whose role is to modify their interactions with the PwD. FT-C will create a 3-way partnership between an Interventionist and the dyad, capitalizing on CG-PwD interactions. The PwD will be observed by the CG and both will be evaluated by the study team. Brief daily FT-C intervention by the CG will stimulate the PwD's awareness and individualized weekly CG- check-ins with the Interventionist will increase the CG's skills. Our hypothesis is that FT-C will increase PwD's awareness of personal fall threats and encourage new falls prevention behaviors, resulting in reduced fall rates.

This is a single-site preliminary trial enrolling dyads in Western Washington state only.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Falls (Accidents) in Old Age

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Caregiver (CG) Inclusion Criteria: * residence in western Washington state * minimum age= 18 * family CG * primary CG * some daily personal contact with Person with Dementia (PwD) for 1 month * basic computer skills and telephone access * able to commit to 6 month study. Persons with Dementia (PwD) Inclusion Criteria: * living at home with residence in western Washington state * minimum age= 55 * at least one fall in last 6 months or regular loss of balance * can ambulate at least 6 feet * ability to communicate thoughts * willingness to participate. CG Exclusion Criteria: * Professional CG (unless primary CG for family member) * distance CG unable to be physically present with PwD daily for 1 month * terminal illness with less than 6 months to live * CG has significant memory loss. PwD Exclusion Criteria: * Residence outside of western Washington state * Living in Residential care setting * non-communicative * terminal illness with less than 6 months to live * wheel chair or bed bound.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Rate of falls

number of falls per month

Time frame: weekly for up to one year

Change of Residence

Report of change of primary residence

Time frame: weekly for up to one year

Secondary Outcomes

Fall Threat Awareness

Ability to identify potential fall risks in 10 standardized novel multimedia clips administered in random order

Time frame: Pre-test- 5 clips at Initial interview; Post-test- 5 clips at Follow-up interview one month later

Activity-Specific Balance Confidence scale

The Activity-Specific Balance Confidence scale is a standardized 16 item scale that measures an individual's self-efficacy about preventing a fall or loss of balance. The maximum score is 1600. Each item is scored from 0-100 with 0 indicating no confidence and 100 meaning complete confidence.

Time frame: Pre-test at Initial interview; Post-test at Follow-up interview one month later

Caregiver Falls Prevention Concerns

Specific concerns identified by Caregiver with respect to preventing falls in the person they care for.

Time frame: Survey administered at study entry and Follow-up visit.

Burden Scale for Family Caregivers

The Burden Scale for Family Caregivers is a standardized 28 item scale that assesses subjective burden of the CG. The items are scored as strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree and the maximum score is 84. A score of 0 indicates no burden and a score of 84 indicates a very severe burden with a high risk of psychosomatic symptoms.

Time frame: BSFC is administered at Initial interview and Follow-up interview one month later.