What is this study about?
The Connect2Caregivers Research Study, an NIH funded research study, is being done to develop a unique matching process for caregivers of persons living with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal degeneration, or other dementia syndromes. Dementia caregivers often assume greater caregiving burden than do non-dementia caregivers, and the caregiving duration tends to be longer. Many caregivers do not have the support they need. Peer-to-peer support has been shown to improve quality of life, increase use of services, improve caregiver health, and reduce hospitalizations in the person they are caring for. This study will help determine whether caregivers of persons with dementia would find a technology-based caregiver matching program valuable.
What’s involved?
Play an important role in developing a unique matching process for caregivers of persons living with dementia. Peer-to-peer support can be effective in improving quality of life and overall wellbeing.
If you join the study, you will complete questionnaires at 4 time points throughout the study, check-in with a study team member at 3 time points via online meetings and use the website-based caregiver match process.
Each participant will receive 4 matches, which will be selected either at random or using the algorithm designed for this study. This will help determine whether caregivers of persons with dementia would find a technology-based caregiver matching program valuable.
Who can participate?
An individual may be able to take part in the study if he/she meets the following qualifications:
- Men or women 18 years old and older
- People with:
- A family member that has been diagnosed with one of the following forms of dementia: Parkinson’s/Lewy body dementia, any frontotemporal lobar degeneration dementia, or Alzheimer’s dementia.
- Must identify as a care partner or caregiver who has contact with their loved one with dementia, in person or by phone, and provides social/emotional support and full or partial assistance with daily activities at least 3 days per week.
- Must have been caring for their loved one with dementia for at least 3 months.
- Must have access to a computer and be able to use the internet.
- Must be English speaking.
- Must agree to participate in the 15-month study, which includes completing questionnaires, brief “virtual” interactions with the study coordinator quarterly, and actively interacting with the website and potential matches. You will have a chance to learn more from the study team before you make a decision about agreeing to participate.
- Must agree to follow-up contact throughout the duration of the study, which is anticipated to last 3 years. However, as with any clinical study, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time for any reason.
You won’t be able to participate if:
- Caregiver’s loved one does not have a confirmed diagnosis of dementia.
- Caregiver is unable to provide consent.
- Caregiver was or has been in that role for less than 3 months.
Study Sites:
All aspects of the study are completed virtually (online)
Study Sponsor:
NIH Funded
For more information
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
connect2caregivers@mayo.edu