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Alzheimer DiseaseNCT05516147

SAFE at Home: A Service to Provide Social Engagement to Community-Dwelling Persons With Dementia

A study testing SAFE at Home in people with Alzheimer Disease and Dementia, run by Hopeful Aging at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The proposed Phase 1 study will involve initial development and evaluation of a new service called Social Activities For Engagement at Home or SAFE at Home (SaH). SaH will enable PWD to participate in videoconference-based group activities with their peers-i.e., other PWD. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Dementia, Vascular
What is being tested?
SAFE at Home
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
12 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
19 Jan 2024to 10 Apr 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

PWD Inclusion Criteria:

  • 65+ years old
  • speak and read conversational English
  • diagnosed with dementia (any type)

PWD Exclusion Criteria:

-signs of rapid cognitive decline or physical deterioration over the last six months, as evidenced by medical records.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Hopeful Aging

    Winchester, Massachusetts, 01890

Other trials in United States

About this study

The proposed Phase 1 study will involve initial development and evaluation of a new service called Social Activities For Engagement at Home or SAFE at Home (SaH). SaH will enable PWD to participate in videoconference-based group activities with their peers-i.e., other PWD. SaH sessions will be facilitated by highly trained "Engagement Professionals," who will be SaH staff members that have a background in recreation therapy, activity coordination, or a similar field. The proposed study has three Specific Aims: Aim 1. Develop an Alpha version of the SaH app, including app infrastructure and preliminary activity content for live group sessions, as well as staff training and coaching modules. Aim 2. Examine the app's acceptability/feasibility (by assessing attendance, session length, and engagement/affect). Aim 3. Examine satisfaction with the app by directly eliciting feedback from PWD and life enrichment staff.

Read the detailed description

Aim 1. Develop an Alpha version of the SAFE at Home app, including app infrastructure and preliminary activity content for live group sessions, as well as staff training and coaching modules. During Months 1-6, the Development Team (DT) will create the initial product design and prototype for use in the study. The study team will engage 5 PWD, 5 family members, and 5 activity professionals in focus groups to review the mockups and to understand end user preferences in terms of user experience and activity content. This will be the only involvement for these participants. New participants will be recruited for the quasi-experiment (described below). Aim 2. Examine the app's acceptability/feasibility (by assessing attendance, session length, and engagement/affect) During Months 5-10, the Experimental Team (ET) will utilize a quasi-experimental pre-post design (i.e., baseline vs. treatment / post-treatment) to conduct a two-month long acceptability and feasibility trial of SaH. During this trial 15 PWD, 15 Family Members, and 5 Life Enrichment professionals will use the product to determine functionality, acceptability, and feasibility. Baseline and Onboarding (Month 7). PWD: During the 4-week baseline period, the ET will collect the following data. PWD Demographics, medications, diagnoses, and type of dementia will be collected via proxy (family member) interview. The following assessments will be administered directly: the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ-T), the Dementia Quality of Life Scale (DEMQOL), the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS). Researchers will interview family members (FMs) using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home (NPI-NH). Using the Menorah Park Engagement Scale. researchers will observe PWD engagement and affect via videoconference on four days. This will allow us to determine "normal/baseline" engagement levels for each PWD and serve as a comparison for SaH. At the conclusion of the Baseline data collection, the ET will use the Get to Know You Portal with each PWD to determine their Cognitive and Communication levels as well as their interests. For the purposes of testing the feasibility of the SaH intervention, all group assignments will be made solely through the use of SaH tools. Staff Demographics will be collected. Staff will also take pre-training quizzes prior to taking the training modules. Family Members (FMs) will provide demographic information and serve as proxies for the above PWD measures. Intervention Period (Months 8-9). PWD: During the 8-week intervention period, PWD will participate in SaH sessions through the Social Engagement Portal. Sessions will occur twice per week and last 30-45 minutes. Staff: Staff will take the training modules developed in Aim 1 and will also run a simulated group and provide feedback. FMs will be involved simply by helping set up the hardware and helping their loved one with technical issues as needed (e.g., reconnecting to the videoconference if the connection is lost). Post Intervention Period (Month 10). PWD: The DEMQOL, GDS-SF, ULS, and NPI-NH will be re-administered at Post-Intervention, allowing us to investigate possible long-term effects. Changes on these longer-term measures are not expected in this Phase 1 study. However, data will be used to conduct power analyses for Phase 2. Staff: Staff will take post-training quizzes after completing the training modules. FMs will serve as proxies for some of the above measures. Milestones. This Aim will be considered successfully met if: (1) At least 85% of PWD agree to take part in 80% of the sessions. (2) Mean session length is least 25 minutes. (3) PWD exhibit higher levels of positive engagement/affect and lower levels of negative engagement during SaH sessions, as compared to baseline (based upon the MPES). This will be assessed by using paired samples t-tests. With the proposed sample, there will be a power of 99% to detect effects. A detailed power analysis is included in Clinical Trials-Statistical Design and Power. (4) Staff show an increase in knowledge after taking the training modules, based upon paired samples t-tests (pre-training quizzes vs. post-training quizzes). Aim 3. Examine satisfaction with the app by directly eliciting feedback from PWD and life enrichment staff. Overview: This Aim occurs concurrently with the Intervention Period for Aim 2 and utilizes the same sample and procedures-it merely tracks separate outcomes. Intervention Period (Months 8-9). PWD: During the intervention period, PWD will answer questions related to satisfaction at the end of each session. Staff: Staff will answer satisfaction questions related to the course and to the app (after the run a simulated group). FMs will answer satisfaction questions at the end of the study. Challenges. Since this aim occurs concurrently with Aim 2, no distinct challenges related solely to Aim 3 are expected. Milestones: This Aim will be considered successfully met if PWD, staff members, and FMs report high satisfaction with the app, defined as 85% being satisfied or very satisfied.

Being tested
SAFE at Home
Keywords
non-pharmacological intervention, psychosocial
Medical subject headings
Alzheimer Disease, Dementia, Dementia, Vascular, Mixed Dementias

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • SAFE at HomeBehavioural

    SAFE at Home will enable community-dwelling PWD to participate in videoconference-based group activities with their peers, that is, other PWD. SaH sessions will be facilitated by highly trained Engagement Professionals.

Study groups in NCT05516147
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
TreatmentExperimentalSAFE at Home Intervention
Receives: Behavioral: SAFE at Home

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Constructive Engagement Mean on Menorah Park Engagement Scale

    Constructive Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale (MPES) is defined as doing or commenting on something related to the target activity. For each participant, multiple BRAIN activities were observed during weeks 5-10. Based upon all of these observations that occured during this time period, a single mean score was calculated for each participant on this MPES item. The minimum value for Constructive Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Higher scores represent a better outcome. A one-sample t-test was used to assess whether the mean was different from a known Constructive Engagement mean of 0.85 for standard programming.

    Measured: Treatment (Weeks 5-10)

  2. Passive Engagement Mean on Menorah Park Engagement Scale

    Passive Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as listening or watching something related to the target activity. For each participant, multiple BRAIN activities were observed during weeks 5-10. Based upon all of these observations that occured during this time period, a single mean score was calculated for each participant on this MPES item. The minimum value for Passive Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Higher scores represent a better outcome. A one-sample t-test was used to assess whether the mean was different from a known Passive Engagement mean of 1.06 for standard programming.

    Measured: Treatment (Weeks 5-10)

  3. Other Engagement Mean on Menorah Park Engagement Scale

    Other Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as doing, commenting, listening, or watching something NOT related to the target activity. For each participant, multiple BRAIN activities were observed during weeks 5-10. Based upon all of these observations that occured during this time period, a single mean score was calculated for each participant on this MPES item. The minimum value for Other Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome. A one-sample t-test was used to assess whether the mean was different from a known Other Engagement mean of 0.42 for standard programming.

    Measured: Treatment (Weeks 5-10)

  4. Non Engagement Mean on Menorah Park Engagement Scale

    Non-Engagement on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as sleeping and/or staring into space. For each participant, multiple BRAIN activities were observed during weeks 5-10. Based upon all of these observations that occured during this time period, a single mean score was calculated for each participant on this MPES item. The minimum value for Non Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome. A one-sample t-test was used to assess whether the mean was different from a known Non Engagement mean of 0.40 for standard programming.

    Measured: Treatment (Weeks 5-10)

  5. Pleasure Mean on Menorah Park Engagement Scale

    Pleasure on the Menorah Park Engagement Scale is defined as clearly observable laughing or smiling.For each participant, multiple BRAIN activities were observed during weeks 5-10. Based upon all of these observations that occured during this time period, a single mean score was calculated for each participant on this MPES item. The minimum value for Non Engagement is zero (0) and the maximum score is two (2). Lower scores represent a better outcome. A one-sample t-test was used to assess whether the mean was different from a known Non Engagement mean of 0.28 for standard programming.

    Measured: Treatment (Weeks 5-10)

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change From Baseline to Treatment on Dementia Related Quality of Life (DEMQOL)

    The Dementia Related Quality of Life Scale is a 28 item scale that examines quality of life in persons with dementia. The score ranges for 28 to 112. Higher scores represent a better outcome.

    Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)

  2. Change From Baseline to Treatment on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home (NPI-NH), Frequency x Severity Score (FxS)

    The NPI-NH examines 10 types of neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia, with the FxS score looking creating a composite score that takes into account frequency and severity of the symtoms. The score ranges from 0 to 120. Lower scores represent a better outcome.

    Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)

  3. Change From Baseline to Treatment on the University of California, Los Angels (UCLA) Loneliness Scale

    The UCLA Loneliness Scale is a widely used psychological tool designed to measure an individual's subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The 20-item version consists of statements related to social connections, with responses typically rated on a four-point Likert scale (e.g., "Never," "Rarely," "Sometimes," "Often"). Scoring involves summing item responses, with higher scores indicating greater levels of loneliness. The range of total possible score is 20 (least amount of loneliness) to 80 (most amount of loneliness).

    Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)

  4. Change From Baseline to Treatment on the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF)

    The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-SF) is a screening tool used to assess depressive symptoms in older adults. Each item is answered with a "Yes" or "No" response, with a total score ranging from 0 to 15, where higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms. A score of 5 or more suggests possible depression, warranting further clinical evaluation.

    Measured: Baseline (Weeks 1-4) and Post-Treatment (Week 11)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Aug 2022
  2. Study start19 Jan 2024
  3. Primary completion10 Apr 2024
  4. Study completion10 Apr 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
All participants receive the intervention
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
12 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05516147
Sponsor's protocol ID
R43AG075974
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
10 Aug 2022
Last updated
21 Mar 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing SAFE at Home in people with Alzheimer Disease and Dementia, run by Hopeful Aging at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 21 Mar 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Constructive Engagement Mean on Menorah Park Engagement Scale (time frame: Treatment (Weeks 5-10)). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Mar 2025.

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