Novel Lighting for Fall Prevention in Dementia

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen bySheryl Zimmerman, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?This project will test the effectiveness of a novel intervention consisting of unobtrusive, low-intensity, horizontal and vertical lights that outline the bathroom or entry way doorframe in residents' rooms and provide visual cues to promote postural stability. Specifically, this pragmatic crossover trial will enroll 390 assisted living residents with dementia and follow them for one year, comparing the incidence of nighttime falls during the lighting condition to the incidence of falls during the control condition; secondarily, it will determine whether and to what extent the intervention effect is modified by resident- and environmental-level risk factors, and satisfaction with the lighting system.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for assisted living residents with dementia who try to get out of bed, are not wheelchair-bound, blind, on hospice care, or expected to die/transfer within the study year. They must live alone in a room but can share a bathroom.

Inclusion Criteria

Lives in a participating AL community

I have been diagnosed with dementia.

I try to get out of bed.

+5 more

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Participant Groups

The study tests if special lights around doorframes can reduce nighttime falls in people with dementia. It's a one-year crossover trial where participants experience both the new lighting and regular conditions at different times.

4Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Lighting Sequence 4: LLCCExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

In this arm, the participant will receive the novel lighting condition (L) for the first two quarters (180 days) and then crossover to the control lighting condition (C) for the last two quarters (180 days). Q1 - Novel lighting Q2 - Novel lighting Q3 - Control lighting Q4 - Control lighting

Group II: Lighting Sequence 3: LCCLExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

In this arm, the participant will receive the novel lighting condition (L) for the first quarter (90 days) and then crossover to the control lighting condition (C) for the next two quarters (180 days) and finally crossover again to the novel condition (L) for the last quarter (90 days). Q1 - Novel lighting Q2 - Control lighting Q3 - Control lighting Q4 - Novel lighting

Group III: Lighting Sequence 2: CLLCExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

In this arm, the participant will receive the control lighting condition (C) for the first quarter (90 days) and then crossover to the novel lighting condition (L) for the next two quarters (180 days) and finally crossover again to the control condition (C) for the last quarter (90 days). Q1 - Control lighting Q2 - Novel lighting Q3 - Novel lighting Q4 - Control lighting

Group IV: Lighting Sequence 1: CCLLExperimental Treatment2 Interventions

In this arm, the participant will receive the control lighting condition (C) for the first two quarters (180 days) and then crossover to the novel lighting condition (L) for the last two quarters (180 days). Q1 - Control lighting Q2 - Control lighting Q3 - Novel lighting Q4 - Novel lighting