Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?Care for America's Aging is a randomized pilot study investigating whether a home health aide training intervention consisting of enhanced dementia-specific curriculum content will improve: 1) behavioral symptoms of older adult persons living with dementia or cognitive impairment (PLWD/CI) and 2) global health-related quality of life among PLWD/CI and their care partners.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for individuals aged 60 or above with mild to moderate dementia or cognitive impairment, who are part of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system and have a care partner. They must be referred to home care services after hospital discharge and able to read English. Those with severe dementia, without a care partner, in palliative care, or unable to consent due to cognitive issues cannot participate.Inclusion Criteria
My cognitive issues are mild to moderate.
My discharge plan includes getting home care services.
All surveys have been validated in English, so participation is limited to potential participants able to read English
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Exclusion Criteria
You do not have someone to help take care of you during the study.
Your Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score is below a certain level.
I am being discharged to a Medicare-approved short-term rehab.
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Participant Groups
The study tests if special training for home health aides on how to handle dementia can improve behavior symptoms in older adults with dementia/cognitive impairment and enhance life quality for them and their caregivers. Participants will be randomly assigned into groups receiving either enhanced training or standard practices.
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Home Health Aides with Enhanced Curriculum TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The enhanced curriculum of 108 hours of home health aide (HHA) training will constitute the Experimental arm. This arm consists of the 100 hours of the standard curriculum plus an 8-hour enhanced curriculum that includes additional didactic content and a skills practicum on dementia and recognizing and responding to dementia-related behaviors. As with the standard curriculum, the enhanced curriculum will be delivered by the training entity, CCHERS (Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service, Inc.). The enhanced component is delivered over an additional 2 instructional days (10% increase in instructional days from the standard curriculum).
Group II: Home Health Aides with Standard Curriculum TrainingActive Control1 Intervention
The standard curriculum of 100 hours of home health aide (HHA) training will constitute the No Intervention arm. This 100-hour training is the standard curriculum that has been used by the training entity, CCHERS (Center for Community Health Education, Research and Service, Inc.), for many years to qualify HHAs to receive certificates from the Massachusetts Home Care Aide Council. The standard curriculum includes 75 hours of basic instruction ("ABC's for Direct Care Workers") and 25 hours of additional content on mental health and dementia topics. The standard curriculum is delivered over approximately on month, or 20 instructional days.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Massachusetts General HospitalLead Sponsor