Improving hospital care for patients with Alzheimer's and their caregivers

Adapting and Testing the Care Partner Hospital Assessment Tool (CHAT) for Use in Dementia Care

NIH-funded research University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10985001

This study is working to make hospital care better for people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers by creating a helpful tool that gathers their needs and experiences during hospital stays, with input from those who care for them.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Madison, United States)
Project IDNIH-10985001 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the quality of hospital care for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their care partners. The project aims to develop and test a tool called the Care Partner Hospital Assessment Tool (CHAT) to better understand and address the needs of patients and their families during hospital stays. By employing participatory human-centered design principles, the research will involve caregivers in the development process to ensure the tool is effective and user-friendly. The ultimate goal is to improve hospital-based care outcomes for both patients and their caregivers.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include patients aged 21 and older who are living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, along with their family members or friends who act as caregivers.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, or those who are not involved with a caregiver, may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved hospital experiences and outcomes for patients with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in using participatory design approaches to improve care tools for patients with chronic conditions, indicating potential for this approach in dementia care.

Where this research is happening

Madison, 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 2026-06-10 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.