In-Home Technology for Dementia Caregivers

What Is This Study About?

This study aims to develop and evaluate in-home assistive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Researchers will install a hardware/software system in caregivers' homes that includes in-home sensors and devices and social networking features. Caregivers will be randomly assigned to the full intervention or a limited safety comparison for nine months. In the full intervention, intelligent bots will monitor the in-home sensors, learn typical patterns, and provide caregivers with text messages and alerts when worrisome behaviors occur. The social networking component will allow friends and family to stay in contact and share photos and videos with the caregiver and person with dementia via a digital display. Participants in the comparison group will have limited monitoring and alerts for a water leak sensor. Interested individuals who live in the study areas may complete this screening questionnaire to determine eligibility for participation.

Do I Qualify To Participate in This Study?

Must have:

Caregivers

• Fluent/literate in English
• Reside with spouse/family member with dementia
• Primarily use an iPhone
• Have wireless Internet at home

Must NOT have:

Individuals with Dementia

• Conditions other than neurodegenerative disorder affecting behavior and cognition
• Longstanding Axis I psychiatric disorder
• Metabolic disorder or major organ dysfunction
• Alcohol abuse or dependence (within five years of dementia onset)
• Head trauma with loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes
• Inability to undergo MRI, such as metal implants or claustrophobia
• Large confluent white matter lesions
• Significant systemic medical illness
• Use of a medication likely to adversely affect central nervous system functions

If I Qualify, Who Do I Contact?

Contact study personnel listed either under the general study contact or the location nearest you.

 

Where Is This Study Located?

Who Sponsors This Study?

Lead: University of California, Berkeley

Collaborator Sponsor

• University of California, San Francisco
• People Power Company
• National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03828383