Clinical Research Studies

Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) is an acute and serious condition that is common in persons living with dementia (PLWD). Involvement of family caregivers can aid early detection, prevention, and management of DSD. Family-centered delirium/DSD interventions have been developed for hospital/institutional settings, but no DSD intervention has leveraged mHealth-based behavioral economic nudges to support family caregivers in the community to perform day-to-day DSD detection, prevention, and management tasks. The purpose of the proposed study is two-fold. First, we will develop a family-centered, mHealth-enhanced DSD caregiving mastery program (“Aliviado DSD Caregiving Mastery Program”) through a 5-week co-design workshop with 8 family caregivers. We will adapt/refine the existing clinician-centered DSD contents and an mHealth app from the evidence-based “Aliviado Dementia Care” program for use by family caregivers to support their day-to-day implementation of DSD detection, prevention, and management tasks in the community. Second, we will pilot test the full Aliviado DSD Caregiving Mastery Program with 30 family caregivers of PLWD at high risk for delirium, assessing feasibility, acceptability, app usability, and preliminary program impact.