Creating a home program to help older adults with cognitive impairment who live alone
Official title: Home Alone: Developing a Home-Based Intervention for People with Cognitive Impairment Who Live Alone
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-10758279 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly program called Home Alone, designed to help older adults with memory issues who live alone, by providing them with tools and support to manage daily tasks and stay connected with others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $235,264 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG080744-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10758279 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or cognitive impairment without dementia who live alone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have cognitive impairment or those who live with family or caregivers may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a home-based intervention called Home Alone for older adults living alone with cognitive impairment. The program consists of seven modules designed to help these individuals manage daily living challenges and stay socially engaged. It is based on established mental health and dementia care strategies and aims to be both feasible and acceptable for participants. The intervention will be pilot tested with a small group of individuals over three months to assess its effectiveness in supporting independent living.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide older adults with cognitive impairment the tools they need to live independently and reduce their risk of hospitalization.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar home-based interventions for older adults, indicating potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gaugler, Joseph E. — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Gaugler, Joseph E.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.