Care Ecosystem for Dementia

Recruiting at 5 trial locations

Overseen By Christopher Chow

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The Care Ecosystem is an accessible, remotely delivered team-based dementia care model, designed to add value for patients, providers and payers in complex organizational and reimbursement structures. Care is delivered via the phone and web by unlicensed Care Team Navigators, who are trained and supervised by a team of dementia specialists with nursing, social work, and pharmacy expertise. The evidence base to date suggests that the Care Ecosystem improves outcomes important to people with dementia, caregivers, and payers when delivered in a controlled research environment, including reduced emergency department visits, higher quality of life for patients, lower caregiver depression, and reduced potentially inappropriate medication use (Possin et al., 2019; Liu et al., 2022). The investigators propose a rapid pragmatic trial in 6 health systems currently offering the Care Ecosystem program in geographically and culturally diverse populations. The investigators will leverage technology, delivering care via the phone and web and using electronic health records to monitor quality improvements and evaluate outcomes while maximizing external validity. The investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of the Care Ecosystem on outcomes important to patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and health systems during the pandemic. By evaluating the real-world effectiveness in diverse health systems that are already providing this model of care, this project will bridge the science-practice gap in dementia care during an unprecedented time of heightened strain on family caregivers, healthcare providers and health systems.

Research Team

Katherine L Possin, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults with various types of progressive dementia, including Alzheimer's, who live at home and have a primary caregiver willing to participate. They must not be in long-term care facilities, should agree to join the Care Ecosystem program and complete surveys. Those previously enrolled in the program or without accessible health records are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

My medical records show a dementia diagnosis.

Lives in the community (i.e., not in an assisted living, board & care, skilled nursing or memory care facility) at the time of enrollment

Willingness to enroll in the Care Ecosystem program and complete surveys

Exclusion Criteria

PWD-participants for whom a substantial amount of the patient's healthcare utilization records cannot be accessed for research purposes by the study team

My dementia is stable and caused by a head injury or stroke.

Is currently, or was ever enrolled, in the Care Ecosystem program

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Care Ecosystem (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The study tests the 'Care Ecosystem,' a remote care model delivered by phone and web designed to support patients with dementia and their caregivers. It aims to improve patient quality of life, reduce emergency visits, lower caregiver depression, and cut inappropriate medication use.

Participant Groups

Group I: Care Ecosystem Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patient and caregiver dyads receive the Care Ecosystem intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Ochsner Health System

Collaborator

Trials

97

Recruited

91,900+

HealthPartners Institute

Collaborator

Trials

196

Recruited

3,721,000+

University of Colorado, Denver

Collaborator

Trials

1,842

Recruited

3,028,000+

Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Collaborator

Trials

105

Recruited

46,600+

Providence Health & Services

Collaborator

Trials

131

Recruited

827,000+