Behavioral Intervention To Support Caregivers of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia

What Is This Study About?

This study will evaluate a behavioral intervention for caregivers of veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer's disease or mixed dementia. The goal is to reduce caregiver depression, anxiety, and burden, and improve veteran health care management. The intervention combines two existing programs: the Resources for Enhancing All Caregivers Health Veterans Affairs (REACH VA) program and the Department of Defense's Virtual Hope Box smartphone application. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the intervention right away or added to a waitlist to receive the intervention later. Each participant will work with a coach to develop personalized caregiving strategies that will be added to the Hope Box smartphone application for ongoing use. Researchers will measure caregiver burden and other indicators of quality of life at the beginning of the study, at three months, and at six months.

Do I Qualify To Participate in This Study?

Must have:

• Primary caregiver for a military veteran with a diagnosis of TBI and subsequent dementia
• Providing four or more hours of care per day for at least six months
• Care recipient requires help with at least one activity of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, getting dressed, mobility, bladder or bowel control) or two or more activities related to living independently (e.g., cooking, cleaning, transportation, laundry, and managing finances)
• High level of caregiver burden with a Zarit Burden Inventory score >4

Must NOT have:

• No mobile telephone or electronic device that can accept the Hope Box application
• Hearing impairment that would make it difficult to use a telephone
• Current diagnosis of schizophrenia or other major mental illness

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: Memphis VA Medical Center

Collaborator Sponsor

• Virginia Commonwealth University
• University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04969796