A Mobile Informatics Solution to Assist Caregivers in Care Coordination and Monitoring Social Engagement

Summary

This study will evaluate the Social Reminder System, a mobile informatics system designed to support persons with memory concerns and their care partners. The system is intended to aid social integration for persons with memory concerns and improve care coordination and reduce caregiver burden among caregivers. Researchers will enroll 100 persons with memory concerns and their care partners. Half of the dyads will be randomly assigned to receive the Social Reminder System technology for a 6-month period, and the other half will be randomly assigned to the usual care control group. Participants will complete baseline, 3-month, and 6-month surveys. A subset of participants who receive the technology will also be asked to complete a semi-structured interview after the 6-month survey.

Interventions

• Social Reminder System · BEHAVIORAL

  The Social Reminder System app is designed to provide memory prompts to persons with memory concerns on an in-home tablet before and during social visits. Individuals who are part of a person with memory concerns' trusted circle may download a free smartphone app and save a photo of themselves, their names, and familial relationship description that are shared with the person with memory concerns' display. When trusted circle members are within a 10 meter range of the tablet, the person with memory concerns receives a notification that a visitor is in range. Reminders continue to appear on the tablet throughout the visit and cease once the visitor is out of range. The care partner will also receive a log of visitors, including names, dates, and beginning and ending times of each visit.

Published eligibility criteria

Verbatim from the registry. Only the site can decide how these apply to a specific patient.

Inclusion Criteria:

* Persons with memory concerns must be English speaking.
* Persons with memory concerns must self-report a healthcare provider visit due to memory concerns or memory related diagnosis by a physician or other qualified health care provider consistent with having mild-to-moderate memory impairment.
* Persons with memory concerns must be over the age of 65.
* Persons with memory concerns must be able to formally consent or assent to participate in the study.
* Persons with memory concerns must have internet access.
* Care partners of persons with memory concerns must speak English.
* Care partners must be 18 years of age and over.
* Care partners must self-identify as the primary caregiver for the person with memory concerns.
* Care partners must indicate a willingness to use the Social Reminder System as well as to being randomized to a control group.
* Care partners must have a mobile phone with internet access in order to install and use the care partner app.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those who do not meet the criteria above will be excluded.
* Persons with memory concerns with severe or no dementia are not eligible.
* Individuals who score below 6 and above 24 on the TICS-40 will not be eligible.

Sites (1)

• University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota