BALANCE: an 8-10 week support program for caregivers with physical or sensory disabilities
Official title: Building Active Living and Addressing Needs for Caregiver Empowerment (BALANCE) Study - Phase 4 of Designed With You
Run by Johns Hopkins University · NCT07157995 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This 8-10 week program tries personalized resource navigation, self-care planning, emergency and end-of-life preparedness, and peer support for adults with physical or sensory disabilities who provide care for someone else, to improve well-being, access to resources, and social connection.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07157995 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults in Maryland who self-identify as having a physical or sensory disability and who provide at least 10 hours per week of caregiving for a person with a disability or chronic illness.
✕Probably not a fit
People with an expected survival under one year or with severe cognitive impairment by the SPMQ are excluded and unlikely to receive benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The BALANCE intervention delivers individualized resource navigation, personalized self-care planning, emergency and end-of-life preparedness, and peer support over 8-10 weeks to caregivers with physical or sensory disabilities. This Phase 1 feasibility trial at Johns Hopkins examines whether the program can be delivered as planned, whether participants engage with the components, and whether study procedures are acceptable. There is no control group because the primary goal is to refine the intervention and study logistics rather than to measure comparative efficacy. Eligible participants are adults (18+) living in Maryland who self-report a physical or sensory disability and provide at least 10 hours per week of caregiving, with exclusions for terminal illness or severe cognitive impairment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help caregiver-participants feel less isolated, more prepared for emergencies and end-of-life issues, and better able to find and use community resources.
How similar studies have gone: Elements such as resource navigation and peer support have shown benefits in other caregiver programs, but the specific integrated BALANCE package is novel and has not yet been tested in larger efficacy trials.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age and older, * Community dwelling in the state of Maryland, * Self report of physical or sensory disability and * self-report of serving as a family caregiver for a person for at least 10 hours/week. Exclusion Criteria: * have a terminal diagnosis (\<1 year expected survival), and * \> severe cognitive impairment (5-7 errors) based on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMQ)
Where it's running
-
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Janiece Taylor, PhD, RN — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Janiece Taylor, PhD, RN
- Email: jwalke90@jhu.edu
- Phone: 443-287-4503
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Seated Tai Chi/Qigong for Women with Mobility Impairments delivered at home
A remotely delivered seated Tai Chi/Qigong program is being tested to see if it improves cardiometabolic health, stress, sleep, and well-being in women with mobility impairments.
-
Adapted table tennis program for people with disabilities
A 12-week adapted table tennis program is being tested to see if it improves physical and mental health in adults with disabilities.
-
Venous findings in lipedema: how vein health relates to pain and function
This study tests whether venous insufficiency seen on Doppler ultrasound is more common in people with lipedema and how it relates to pain, function, and quality of life.
-
100-Year Human Aging and Longevity Tracking Program
This project will follow adults over their lifetimes to see if repeated health tests can predict lifespan, causes of death, serious disease, and loss of function.
-
Cinematic virtual reality to improve geriatric care training for osteopathic medical students.
This project will test whether cinematic virtual reality training helps osteopathic medical students learn geriatric care better than traditional lectures.
-
PEARL: Rehabilitation and recovery after atrial fibrillation-related ischemic stroke
This project will see if adults with atrial fibrillation-related ischemic stroke have different rehabilitation needs and whether higher-intensity inpatient therapy (3–5 sessions/day) leads to better functional recovery at six months than moderate-intensity care (1 session/day).
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.