Care Coordination System for People With Dementia

NCT ID: NCT04308512

Last Updated: 2025-11-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 33 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-12-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-08-01

Brief Summary

Dementia, a chronic disease of aging, is characterized by progressive cognitive decline that interferes with independent functioning. The medical, psychological, social and functional sequelae of dementia cause great stress to patients, their caregivers, and their family. The investigator proposes to examine effectiveness of a home-based care coordination and management device, called Care4AD (Nili device) to help caregivers effectively coordinate, manage, and improve dementia care.

Detailed Description

In this study, the investigator will evaluate the effectiveness of a supportive care coordination device, Care4AD/Nili, in reducing caregiver burden and stress, improving adherence to scheduled tasks, and increasing engagement among individuals with dementia (IWD).

A 3-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted with an anticipated 100 caregiver-patient dyads, consisting of 50 individuals with dementia or cognitive impairment and their 50 primary caregivers. Dyads will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either (1) a Passive Nili device (preprogrammed care coordination with limited daily programmability) for three months, or (2) an Active Nili device for three months. The Active Nili device offers interactive, personalized programming with real-time notifications, task logging, and enhanced social and cognitive engagement features, including photo sharing, phone calls, music, and audiobooks.

The primary outcome is change in caregiver burden. Secondary outcomes include usability metrics such as perceived ease of use, perceived benefit, technology-related anxiety, and overall attitudes toward adoption.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Dementia Alzheimers

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control Group: Receiving passive Nili device

Participants in the control group will receive the passive Nili device with preprogrammed care coordination and limited daily programming. However, all reminders and activity of daily living (ADL) task scheduling will remain deactivated during this phase.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Passive Nili system

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligible dyads, consisting of individuals with dementia (IWD) and their caregivers, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a 3-month Passive Nili Care device or a 3-month Active Nili Care device. Both devices are identical in design and feature a kiosk-mode interactive tablet that supports IWD in following preprogrammed daily routines, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), social engagement, phone calls, photo sharing, medication adherence, and listening to music or audiobooks. In the Active Nili device, all reminders and programming features will be enabled, whereas in the Passive device, these functions will remain disabled. In both groups, essential ADL tasks will be preprogrammed by a care coordination expert. In addition, the Active Nili system will allow patients and caregivers to schedule personalized tasks through the Nili app.

Intervention Group: Care coordination with active Nili System

Participants in the intervention group will receive the Active Nili system. Essential activities of daily living (ADL) were pre-programmed by a care coordination expert for the Active Nili Care Phase. In addition, patients and their caregivers were able to schedule supplementary tasks through the Nili App. All feedback features were fully activated in the Active Nili device.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active Nili device

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligible dyads, consisting of individuals with dementia (IWD) and their caregivers, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a 3-month Passive Nili Care device or a 3-month Active Nili Care device. Both devices are identical in design and feature a kiosk-mode interactive tablet that supports IWD in following preprogrammed daily routines, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), social engagement, phone calls, photo sharing, medication adherence, and listening to music or audiobooks. In the Active Nili device, all reminders and programming features will be enabled, whereas in the Passive device, these functions will remain disabled. In both groups, essential ADL tasks will be preprogrammed by a care coordination expert. In addition, the Active Nili system will allow patients and caregivers to schedule personalized tasks through the Nili app.

Interventions

Active Nili device

Eligible dyads, consisting of individuals with dementia (IWD) and their caregivers, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a 3-month Passive Nili Care device or a 3-month Active Nili Care device. Both devices are identical in design and feature a kiosk-mode interactive tablet that supports IWD in following preprogrammed daily routines, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), social engagement, phone calls, photo sharing, medication adherence, and listening to music or audiobooks. In the Active Nili device, all reminders and programming features will be enabled, whereas in the Passive device, these functions will remain disabled. In both groups, essential ADL tasks will be preprogrammed by a care coordination expert. In addition, the Active Nili system will allow patients and caregivers to schedule personalized tasks through the Nili app.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Passive Nili system

Eligible dyads, consisting of individuals with dementia (IWD) and their caregivers, will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a 3-month Passive Nili Care device or a 3-month Active Nili Care device. Both devices are identical in design and feature a kiosk-mode interactive tablet that supports IWD in following preprogrammed daily routines, including instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), social engagement, phone calls, photo sharing, medication adherence, and listening to music or audiobooks. In the Active Nili device, all reminders and programming features will be enabled, whereas in the Passive device, these functions will remain disabled. In both groups, essential ADL tasks will be preprogrammed by a care coordination expert. In addition, the Active Nili system will allow patients and caregivers to schedule personalized tasks through the Nili app.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Caregivers (>18 years old) taking care of older patients (> 55 years old) with mild or moderate Alzheimer's Disease or self-reported memory problems and MOCA score of 26 or lower.
• Must be ambulatory
• Must be in a residential home with a caregiver/informant.

Exclusion Criteria

• Immobility or inability to engage in activities that are essential for independent living (e.g., patients with severe dementia);
• Any significant medical or psychiatric condition that, in the judgment of the investigators, would potentially interfere with the ability to participate in the study
• Major hearing/visual impairment;
• Residing in a nursing home or are receiving hospice care;
• Inability to communicate in English or Spanish;
• Unavailability or unwillingness of the caregiver of the patient to attend the interview.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

BioSensics

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Bijan Najafi, PhD

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Bijan Najafi, PhD

Professor of Surgery

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas, United States

Countries

United States

References

Mishra RK, Park C, Momin AS, Rafaei NE, Kunik M, York MK, Najafi B. Care4AD: A Technology-Driven Platform for Care Coordination and Management: Acceptability Study in Dementia. Gerontology. 2023;69(2):227-238. doi: 10.1159/000526219. Epub 2022 Sep 12.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 36096091 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

H-46087

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id