Improving Sleep for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
Official title: Enhancing Sleep Quality for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: Pragmatic Trial
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11325718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A real-world program helps nursing homes use a simple staff approach called LOCK to improve sleep for residents with dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2019 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $950,718 |
| NIH project number | 5R33AG065619-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and the frontline staff who care for them in participating facilities.
✕Less likely to help
Some residents may not experience sleep improvements due to individual health variations or environmental factors.
What this research studies
This project tests a practical nursing home intervention designed to improve sleep quality for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. It adapts the LOCK program, a frontline staff huddling and teamwork approach, for non-VA nursing homes across three corporate partners and real-world settings. The study emphasizes how better sleep could reduce frailty, pain, and other health issues, using pragmatic methods that fit everyday care routines. Participants are nursing home residents with ADRD and the staff who care for them, with outcomes focused on sleep and related health measures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, residents with dementia could experience better sleep, potentially improving overall health and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data from VA and non-VA facilities suggest the LOCK approach can improve resident outcomes and care processes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Snow, a Lynn — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Snow, a Lynn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving sleep quality for nursing home residents with dementia
This study is testing a new program called LOCK to help nursing home staff create a better sleep environment for residents with Alzheimer's and related dementias, aiming to improve their sleep and overall well-being by reducing noise and light disturbances.
-
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Dementia care staff study: adapting a US survey for use in many countries
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Dementia care staff study: adapting a survey for use in many countries
A multinational study will adapt and test a U.S. dementia-care worker survey in Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why staff stay in or leave long-term care settings.
-
Study of Dementia Care Staff in 4 Countries: Adapting Caregiver Surveys Across Cultures
A multinational project will adapt and test a dementia care worker survey so researchers can compare care environments across the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana.
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.