A Study to Evaluate Caregiver Connections Via Technology for Patients With Alzheimer's and Other Types of Dementia

Mayo Clinic

Overview

This research is being done to develop a unique matching process for caregivers of persons living with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal degeneration, or other dementia syndromes. Dementia caregivers often assume greater caregiving burden than do non-dementia caregivers, and the caregiving duration tends to be longer. Many caregivers do not have the adequate support they need. Peer-to-peer support has been shown to improve quality of life, increase use of services, improve caregiver health, and reduce hospitalizations in the person they are caring for. This study will assess a technology platform and matching process for the purpose of peer-to-peer emotional support aimed at improving overall wellbeing in dementia care partners/caregivers.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Conditions

Caregiver Stress Dementia Alzheimer Dementia Lewy Body Dementia Parkinson Disease Dementia

Interventions

AlgorithmBEHAVIORAL

Current and/or former Care Partners of persons with dementia will be matched using an algorithm to other Care Partners who might provide emotional support.

Random MatchBEHAVIORAL

Current and/or former Care Partners of persons with dementia will be randomly matched to other Care Partners who might provide emotional support.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Individuals in a current or former caregiving role for a family member living with dementia will be recruited for this study. There will be no sex or gender restrictions, or exclusion based on race or ethnicity. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. Inclusion Criteria: * The participant must have a family member that has been diagnosed with dementia. * The participant must identify as a Care Partner or Caregiver who has contact with their loved one with dementia, in person or by phone, and who provides social/emotional support and full or partial assistance with daily activities at least 3 days per week. * The participant must have been caring for their loved one with dementia for at least 3 months. * All participants must have access to a computer and be able to use the internet. * All participants must be English speaking. * All participants must agree to participate in the 15-month study, which includes completing questionnaires, brief "virtual" interactions with the study coordinator quarterly, and actively interacting with the website and potential matches. * All participants must agree to follow-up contact throughout the duration of the study, which is anticipated to last 3 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Care Partner's loved one does not have a confirmed diagnosis of dementia. * Care Partner is unable to provide consent. * Care Partner was or has been in that role for less than 3 months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Match Satisfaction Questionnaire

All participants will complete a match satisfaction questionnaire to assess whether being matched to a supportive Care Partner via an algorithm based on personal preferences results in greater match satisfaction than being matched at random.

Time frame: 12 months

Change over time from Baseline Resilience to 12 months

All participants will complete questions surveying resilience to determine whether Care Partners randomized to algorithmic matching based on personal preferences will report a greater sense of resiliency after being matched than Care Partners who are randomly matched.

Time frame: Baseline,12 months

Change over time from Baseline Quality of Life to 12 months

All participants will complete questions surveying quality of life to determine whether Care Partners randomized to algorithmic matching based on personal preferences will report improved quality of life after being matched than Care Partners who are randomly matched.

Time frame: Baseline, 12 months

Scale of Perceived Social Support

All participants will complete survey questions regarding perceived level of social support to assess impact on match satisfaction.

Time frame: 12 months

Secondary Outcomes

Survey of Executive Skills

All participants will complete questions regarding executive functioning (e.g., flexibility, problem-solving) to determine whether the level of these skills relates to ease or difficulty in finding a satisfactory supportive Care Partner match.

Time frame: 12 months