Scaling Virtual Dementia Care for Caregivers and Family Support
Official title: Scaling Virtual Dementia Care: A Pragmatic Evaluation of Tele-Nursing & E-Training to Reduce Acute Care Utilization and to Support Family Caregivers
Funded at Pocket Rn, INC · NIH-11408309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A practical project will test a 24/7 tele-nursing and caregiver-education program for people caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pocket Rn, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $831,307 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AG102274-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408309 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Caregivers of Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who are considering or currently using GUIDE and who meet the study’s enrollment criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers or patients who are not enrolled in GUIDE or who do not fit the study’s criteria may not experience a benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This grant funds a real-world evaluation of a virtual dementia care model that combines around-the-clock nursing support with mobile caregiver training. It compares outcomes for caregivers of patients enrolled in a GUIDE program to a similar group not eligible for GUIDE, using surveys and health-care usage data collected over 6 and 12 months. Researchers will gather caregiver feelings of efficacy, burden, confidence, activation, satisfaction, and quality of life, plus system-level metrics like enrollment and retention, and will conduct interviews to add context. The study uses a parallel mixed-methods design to understand both human experiences and operational feasibility. It is the first large look at caregiver outcomes and healthcare use in a virtual-first dementia care model to assess scalability and impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce caregiver burden and potentially lower hospital visits by providing timely virtual support for dementia care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous virtual care programs show promise, but this trial is among the first to evaluate caregiver outcomes and system use in a GUIDE-enabled, virtual-first dementia care model.
Where this research is happening
-
Pocket Rn, INC
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Samual C — Pocket Rn, INC
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Samual C
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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.