Linking dementia caregivers to assistance and resources (DECLARE)
Dementia Caregivers' Link to Assistance and Resources: Supporting Caregivers of Home Health Patients With Dementia
This program tests whether a short caregiver self-assessment plus easier access to social work helps family caregivers of home health patients with dementia feel more supported and confident in their caregiving role.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Visiting Nurse Service of New York Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT06860035 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
DECLARE is a pragmatic, cluster-randomized program embedded within VNS Health home health operations that integrates a caregiver self-assessment into the patient record and facilitates increased social work involvement for cases with dementia caregivers. Four treatment branches (8 clinical teams) will implement the intervention and six control branches (12 clinical teams) will provide usual care. Caregivers will be contacted by phone for baseline and follow-up surveys while clinicians will have access to assessment responses in the electronic record to guide referrals to social work. The pilot will run about 12 months with periodic analytic checks to monitor uptake, usefulness to clinicians, and changes in caregiver outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are English-speaking family caregivers listed in the record for home health patients aged 65+ with a documented dementia diagnosis who receive care from participating VNS Health branches and have a phone number on file.
Not a fit: Caregivers who are not listed in the patient record, cannot communicate in English, lack a phone number, or are caring for patients without a documented dementia diagnosis or not served by VNS Health are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase caregiver confidence and connect more families to social work and community resources when dementia care needs are high.
How similar studies have performed: Previous caregiver-support and social work linkage programs have shown benefits for caregiver strain and confidence, but this specific checklist-based intervention in the home health setting is novel and being piloted.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Individual must be listed as the caregiver of record for a patient receiving home health care from the partner home health agency and have a phone number on file; the patient must meet the inclusion criteria listed below. * Home health patient (care recipient) must have a documented dementia diagnosis on the home health assessment, be 65 years or older, and have Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage as their primary payer for the home health episode. Exclusion Criteria: * Caregivers are excluded if they are unable to communicate in English.
Where this trial is running
New York, New York
- VNS Health Home Care — New York, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Julia G Burgdorf, PhD — Center for Home Care Policy & Research, VNS Health
- Study coordinator: Julia Burgdorf, PhD
- Email: julia.burgdorf@vnshealth.org
- Phone: (585) 406-7926
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.