Behavioral programs to improve healthcare for older adults

USC-Yale Roybal Center for Behavioral Interventions in Aging

NIH-funded research University of Southern California · NIH-11142503

This project tests easy-to-scale behavior-based programs to help older adults get safer, more useful healthcare.

Quick facts

Grant typeP30 center grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11142503 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be part of efforts that test simple, behavior-focused programs across several healthcare systems to make care safer and easier for older adults. The Center will run about ten clinical trials, beginning with two randomized trials in the first year: one that revises a medication-safety program using new behavioral techniques and one that encourages people to complete a healthcare proxy using planning prompts. Researchers will study how who delivers the message (the messenger) and how prompts are framed change people’s actions, following an NIH staged approach to developing interventions. The aim is to create low-cost, scalable tools that health systems can put into routine care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who receive care from the participating health systems, especially those on multiple medications or who have not completed an advance healthcare proxy.

Not a fit: People who are not patients of the participating health systems, are not managing medications, or are not interested in advance care planning may not receive direct benefit from these trials.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, these programs could reduce medication problems, increase advance care planning, and make it easier for older adults to receive care that fits their needs.

How similar studies have performed: Related behavior-change interventions have shown promise but mixed replication results, so this work builds on prior successes while testing new behavioral mechanisms.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.