NCT03828383

In-Home Technology for Dementia Caregivers

Developing and Evaluating In-Home Supportive Technology for Dementia Caregivers

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 78 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, Berkeley · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to develop and evaluate in-home assistive technology that is designed to alleviate anxiety, burden, and loneliness in spousal and familial caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.

Detailed description

This study aims to develop, refine, and evaluate a hardware/software system designed to integrate in-home sensors and devices, social connection, and Internet-of-Things (i.e., devices that can be controlled and communicated with via the internet) technologies to create a more supportive and safe home environment for caregivers and people with dementia. The system monitors troublesome behaviors in people with dementia (e.g., wandering), and targets mechanisms (e.g., worry, social isolation) thought to link behavioral symptoms in people with dementia with adverse caregiver outcomes (declines in health and well-being). The system is designed to minimize demands on caregivers' limited time and energy and to provide a platform for data collection that can be used by researchers and care professionals. Hypotheses: 1. Caregivers in the full operation condition will have fewer negative effects of caregiving (lower burden, higher mental and physical health, higher well-being) than those in the limited home safety condition. 2. Greater use of the social networking features of the system will be associated with fewer caregiver depressive symptoms. 3. Greater utilization of the home safety features of the system will be associated with fewer caregiver anxiety symptoms.

Conditions

• Dementia
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Frontotemporal Dementia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	In-home technology	Intelligent bots monitor the in-home sensors, learn typical patterns, and provide caregivers with text messages via cell phone and alerts via the tablet when worrisome behaviors occur. Social contact is encouraged using a trusted circle of friends and family who are encouraged to stay in contact and share photos and videos with the caregiver and person with dementia via the digital display.
DEVICE	Limited in-home technology	Intelligent bot monitors the in-home water leak sensor and provide caregivers with text messages via cell phone and alerts via the tablet when worrisome conditions occur.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-02-26
• Primary completion: 2020-11-27
• Completion: 2020-11-27
• First posted: 2019-02-04
• Last updated: 2022-05-10
• Results posted: 2022-05-10

Locations

5 sites across 1 country: United States