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The Care for America's Aging Study

Care for America's Aging (CfAA): A Study to Improve Behavioral and Quality of Life Outcomes of Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia and Their Care Partners

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
60 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires, Phone or video check-ins

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "All study participants will be asked to complete questionnaires every two (2) weeks over a 6-month follow-up period."
  • "Study questionnaires will ask about behavioral symptoms, mood, psychosocial, health, and daily functioning."
  • "Occasionally, participants may receive a phone call from study staff to collect information or to clarify responses on the questionnaires."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests whether extra training in dementia care for home health aides can improve behavior symptoms and quality of life for older adults with memory or thinking problems. It also looks at quality of life for their care partners. It is for adults age 60 or older in the Mass General Brigham healthcare system who are referred for home care.

Care for America's Aging is a randomized pilot study investigating whether a home health aide training intervention consisting of enhanced dementia-specific curriculum content will improve: 1) behavioral symptoms of older adult persons living with dementia or cognitive impairment (PLWD/CI) and 2) global health-related quality of life among PLWD/CI and their care partners.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Age 60 or older.
  • Get care in the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.
  • Have mild cognitive impairment (mild memory or thinking problems) or dementia no worse than mild-to-moderate.
  • Have a plan to be referred for home care after leaving the hospital.
  • Can read English.

Who can't join

  • Will go only to Medicare short-term rehab after leaving the hospital.
  • Do not have a care partner.
  • Receive palliative care (care focused on comfort) and are expected to live less than 6 months.
  • Have dementia that is moderate or worse.
  • Have active health problems that make taking part unsafe.
  • Score below the required level on the MoCA-blind test of memory and thinking.
  • Score below the required level on the UBACC test of the ability to understand and agree to join the study.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Patients: * Age 60 years and above * Patients in Mass General Brigham healthcare system * Mild cognitive impairment or dementia diagnosis of no greater than mild-moderate severity * Discharge plan includes referral to home care services * As all surveys have been validated in English, we will limit participation to potential participants able to read English. Exclusion Criteria for Patients: * Discharge to Medicare short-term rehab only * Lack of care partner * Enrolled in palliative care (projected survival \< 6 months) * Clinical severity of dementia that is moderate or greater * Any active clinical issues barring safe participation * Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)-blind score below cutoff * University of California, San Diego Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC) score below cutoff

Study sites (1)

MA