About this trial
The investigators will perform a parallel-group multicenter randomized controlled trial of a 1-year pre-enrolled acute hospital care at home intervention vs usual care for people living with dementia. Patients will be randomized only after eligibility determination and after the family caregiver agrees to enroll; people living with dementia will assent when able. Patients will be allocated in a concealed fashion to the control and intervention groups in randomly selected block sizes of 4 or 6 in 4 strata reflecting their functional status (activities of daily living: 0, 1, 2-3, 4-6). Although family and clinicians cannot be blinded, the investigators will blind the data collectors and assessors.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Diagnosis of moderate or severe dementia (as ascertained by the Quick Dementia Rating System; QDRS)
Resides in a private or assisted living residence with or nearby (<15min travel time) to a family caregiver
Resides within the Mass General Brigham (MGB) home hospital catchment area
Has had at least 1 hospitalization in the last 12 months.
Disqualifiers
No functioning utilities, such as no working heat (October-April), no running water, or no electricity.
Resides in skilled nursing facility
Resides in group home
Domestic violence screen positive
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Acute hospital care at home
- Standard medical treatment
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead sponsor
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborator