RightFit
RecruitingNot applicable

Project HOPEFUL: A PN-RCT With Implementation Science

Project HOPEFUL (Helping Older PErsons Find Useful Links): Replicating a Partially Nested Randomized Control Trial With Implementation Science

Who can join

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

Age
55 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
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

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

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 8 weeks of caring phone calls, lasting 20–30 minutes, for adults age 65 and older who get home and community services. It compares calls from helpers with two types of training with no calls during the study; the no-call group can receive calls afterward. Helpers and aging service leaders also review how well the program works in practice.

This PN-RCT replicates and evaluates an 8-week warm calling treatment (i.e. caring contacts) delivered to older adults receiving home and community-based services (HCBS; classified as "homebound") in 20-30 minute call "dosages", across 3 conditions, while adding in implementation science measures at multiple levels. Conditions include 2 treatment (i.e. treatment provided by helpers trained in a standardized and manualized Belongingness and Empathy training grounded in narrative reminiscence and the befriending literature (BE condition), and treatment provided by helpers trained in BE + a standardized, manualized, and evidence based suicide intervention training, the Aging Variant of LivingWorks ASIST (BE + ASIST condition), and 1 control (no treatment during the trial; opportunity to receive treatment after the 8 weeks). At the conclusion of treatment, acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, useability, and sustainability of the program will be evaluated by interventionists, senior center leadership, and regional leadership.

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Older adults: Be age 65 or older and agree out loud to join after learning about the study.
  • Older adults: Be willing and able to follow all study steps.
  • Older adults: Get home and community services through the Aging Services Network, such as meal services, and be linked to a partner aging agency.
  • Helpers: Be a staff member or volunteer at a partner Aging Services Network agency.
  • Helpers: Be warm and caring, have regular contact with participants through your role, and be recommended by agency leaders.
  • Helpers: Agree in writing to join after learning about the study, and be willing to follow all study steps.
  • Leaders: Hold a leadership role at a partner aging agency and have helped the study team put the 8-week program in place.
  • Leaders: Agree in writing to join after learning about the study, and be willing to follow all study steps.

Who can't join

  • Older adults: Have a dementia diagnosis, another problem with memory or thinking, or hearing loss that prevents phone conversations.
  • Older adults and helpers: Be taking part in another study of caring phone calls at the same time.
  • Helpers: Do not have regular, ongoing contact with the same older adults who may join.
  • Leaders: Have not worked directly with the study team to put the 8-week program in place.
  • Leaders: Are not familiar with how the program is put in place.

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

Official eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible as a participant in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Provision of verbal informed consent 2. Classify as an Older Adult (65+) 3. Stated willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures 4. Receive home and community-based services (HCBS) through the Aging Services Network (i.e. HDM (home delivered meals services), CM (congregate meals), etc.) 5. Be affiliated with the triple As and aging entities we have partnered with In order to be eligible to be a trained provider in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Provision of written informed consent 2. State willingness to comply with all study procedures 3. Be a staff or volunteer within the ASN (Aging Services Network), specifically within the triple As and aging entities we have partnered with 4. Meet Wymann and colleagues (2008) criteria for being a "natural helpers"42 (i.e. be warm, empathic, and having ongoing interaction with participants through one's job role) 5. Be recommended by the aging entity leadership as meeting these qualifications In order to be eligible to be a leadership personnel in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Provision of written informed consent 2. State willingness to comply with all study procedures 3. Be a in a leadership position within the aging entity or triple A in which we partnered, and have worked with the study team in helping implement the 8 week program Exclusion criteria for Participants: 1. Had a dementia diagnosis, or another form of cognitive impairment, and/or hearing impairment that would preclude phone conversation. 2. Participation in another warm calling behavioral treatment or intervention study simultaneously occurring Exclusion criteria for trained natural helpers: 1. Does not have ongoing interactions with potential old adult participants (i.e. is a part of an optimized nutrition service provider in which they do not serve the same older adults consistently over time) 2. Participation in another warm calling behavioral treatment or intervention study simultaneously occurring Exclusion criteria for aging leaders: 1. Has not worked with the study team directly in implementing the 8-week treatment 2. Is not familiar with the implementation of the program

Study sites (1)

FL