Supporting Home Palliative Care for Heart Failure Patients and Their Families in Rural Appalachia
Official title: Sustaining Home Palliative Care for Patients with Heart Failure (HF) and Their Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Mixed Methods Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)
Funded at West Virginia University · NIH-11195149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing a new way to provide comforting care at home for older adults with heart failure and their family caregivers in rural Appalachian communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | West Virginia University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Morgantown, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $705,472 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021630-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults (65 years or older) with heart failure and their family caregivers living in rural Appalachian areas, particularly in West Virginia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have heart failure, are under 65 years old, or do not reside in rural Appalachian regions would not be eligible for this specific program.
What this research studies
Heart failure is a serious condition, especially for older adults in rural Appalachia, where access to care can be limited. This project brings together a special care package that includes nurse-led support for heart failure care at home, help from visiting neighbors for daily needs, and comforting palliative care provided by faith-based nurses. Our goal is to make sure patients and their families feel supported and prepared during the later stages of heart failure, right in their own homes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve the quality of life for heart failure patients and their family caregivers by providing better access to supportive care and reducing the burden of home care.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have already verified the effectiveness of the individual components of this care package, suggesting a strong foundation for this combined approach.
Where this research is happening
-
West Virginia University
Morgantown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Piamjariyakul, Ubolrat — West Virginia University
- Study coordinator: Piamjariyakul, Ubolrat
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Sustaining at-Home Heart Failure Care for Older Adults in Rural Appalachia
A team at West Virginia University is testing a nurse-led program to support older adults with heart failure and their families at home in rural Appalachia to reduce hospital visits and improve comfort.
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Helping caregivers of adults at home with heart failure and cognitive impairment manage stress and self-care
This grant tests a virtual coaching program designed to support caregivers of adults with heart failure and cognitive impairment to improve their own well-being and caregiving skills.
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Support-T: a mobile tool to help people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers get palliative care and planning
A mobile app called SUPPORT-T helps people with progressive pulmonary fibrosis and their caregivers access palliative care and plan for the future.
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Promoting palliative care for people with heart failure
A pilot effort to help people with heart failure receive timely, goal-aligned palliative care through a clinical decision tool and targeted workflows.
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Strategies that make specialist palliative care more available for people with advanced heart failure
A plan to find which ways cardiology and palliative care teams can work together to reach more people with advanced heart failure and improve end-of-life care.
-
Finding meaning and support for people caring for loved ones with advanced cancer
This project offers a psychotherapy program to help people who care for loved ones with advanced cancer reduce existential distress and feel more supported.
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.