Using decision-support tools to make long-term care safer for residents
Implementing decision support for long term care
This project helps nursing-home and assisted-living staff use smart decision tools to reduce falls and other harms and improve safety for people living with dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171371 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one live in a nursing home or assisted living and have dementia, this project will tailor and introduce two decision-support technologies to the facility so staff can get timely guidance. The team will first learn about each facility’s routines and needs, then put the prototype tools into everyday workflows and train staff. Researchers will track staff workload, burnout, resident falls, ER visits, hospitalizations, and quality-of-life outcomes for residents with dementia. They will also record how each site adapts the tools so they fit real-world care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with dementia who reside in participating nursing homes or assisted-living facilities and whose facilities are willing to implement the decision-support tools.
Not a fit: People who do not live in long-term care facilities, have no dementia, or live in facilities that do not adopt the tools are unlikely to see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tools could lower preventable falls, emergency visits, and hospitalizations and improve quality of life for residents with dementia in long-term care.
How similar studies have performed: Decision-support technologies have improved safety in hospitals and primary care, but their effectiveness and impact in long-term care—especially for residents with dementia—remains less tested.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ozkaynak, Mustafa — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Ozkaynak, Mustafa
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 below.