Examining how special Medicare plans improve care for elderly patients with dementia

Assessing the Effects of Institutional Special Need Plan (I-SNP) Enrollment on Quality of Long-Term and End-of-Life care for Elderly Individuals with Dementia

NIH-funded research Brown University · NIH-11078729

This study is looking at how special Medicare plans for nursing home residents with Alzheimer's and related dementias can improve their care and reduce hospital visits, especially during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic, to help ensure they receive better support and less unnecessary treatment.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrown University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project IDNIH-11078729 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the effects of Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) on the quality of long-term and end-of-life care for elderly individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It aims to understand how these specialized Medicare plans can reduce hospitalizations and improve care coordination in nursing homes, especially in the context of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparing care quality before and after the pandemic, the study seeks to identify factors that contribute to the growth of I-SNP enrollment and how these plans impact patient outcomes. Patients may benefit from improved care practices and reduced aggressive treatments that offer minimal benefit.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are elderly individuals residing in nursing homes who have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.

Not a fit: Patients who do not reside in nursing homes or do not have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to enhanced quality of care and better health outcomes for elderly patients with dementia living in nursing homes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in improving care quality through specialized Medicare plans, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Providence, 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.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementiaAlzheimer syndrome
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.