Caregiver, support and other trials recruiting in the United States (Data are as of July 24, 2009. Only select studies and criteria are given; see ClinicalTrials.gov for complete information.)

Comprehensive Support for Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers
Sponsored by: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00362284
Study Phase: Phase III

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
Two study locations in Minnesota and New York
Joseph E. Gaugler, Ph.D., 1.612.626.2485
gaug0015@umn.edu

Study Purpose
This study will test the effectiveness of a comprehensive counseling and support program for people who care for parents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. The researchers hope to improve the caregivers’ stress levels, reduce their depression, promote their caregiving abilities and delay the need for placing their parents in nursing homes or other care facilities.

You may qualify if you

• are the primary caregiver of a person with dementia
• are the daughter, son, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law of the person with dementia
• see the parent with dementia at least once a week

You may not qualify if you

• have inadequate hearing
• have had an emotional or psychological disorder, including depression or anxiety, within the past 6 months
• have received counseling for problems arising as a caregiver

Telephone Resources and Assistance for Caregivers (TRAC)
Sponsored by: Rush University Medical Center; Stanford University
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00721383
Study Phase: Not applicable

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
Two study locations in California and Illinois
Caryn D Etkin, Ph.D., 1.312.942.5242
Caryn_Etkin@rush.edu
Diane Marston, Ph.D., 1.312.942.4396
Diane_Marston@rush.edu

Study Purpose
This study will assess whether a specially designed exercise program can benefit caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers hope their program will improve the caregivers’ own physical and mental health, as well as their ability to provide for their elderly relatives.

You may qualify if you

• are 40 years old or older
• are a spouse or other close family member of a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
• live with or near the care recipient
• have provided 10 hours or more of care per week for at least 6 months
• have undertaken 60 minutes or less of regular physical exercise per week for the past 6 months
• report moderate levels of mental or physical strain
• are willing to increase your levels of physical activity

You may not qualify if you

• have cancer or another debilitating health problem
• have had three or more hospitalizations in last year
• are involved in another caregiver clinical trial

Alzheimer's Family Research
Sponsored by: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); National Institute on Aging (NIA)
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00878059
Study Phase: Not applicable

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
UCSF Langley Porter Institute
San Francisco, California 94143
Jenifer Young, 1.415.476.7381
Jenifer.Young@ucsf.edu

Study Purpose
This study aims to learn more about how and why family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease decide to enroll their relatives in Alzheimer research studies. The long-term goal of the study is to improve the way researchers inform families about such studies. You may qualify if you

• are a caregiver or medical decision maker for someone with Alzheimer's disease
• are available to be interviewed in person in or around the San Francisco Bay Area

Efficacy of Early Stage Alzheimer's Support Groups
Sponsored by: National Institute on Aging (NIA); University of Washington
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00391794
Study Phase: Not applicable

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
University of Washington Seattle,
Washington 98115
Amy L Moore, M.S., 1.206.616.5550
amoore@u.washington.edu

Study Purpose
This study will evaluate the impact of specially designed support groups and education programs on people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. The researchers will assess whether the programs can improve the participants’ quality of life, mood, social interaction and distress about memory loss.

You may qualify if you

• have a diagnosis of early stage Alzheimer’s disease
• have a reliable caregiver
• are aware of your memory loss
• have given adequate consent for research participation
• remain in your community for the 6 month duration of the study

You may not qualify if you

• are uncomfortable in a group separate from family members
• have a history of mental illness

Enhancing Consent for Alzheimer's Research (BWP-AD)
Sponsored by: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00453544
Study Phase: Not applicable

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, California 92161
Tia Thrasher, 1.858.535.5795
tthrasher@ucsd.edu
Luz Pinto, 1.858.642.3682
llpinto@ucsd.edu

Study Purpose
People with Alzheimer’s disease often develop cognitive impairments that hinder their ability to provide informed consent for participation in vital research studies. This effort will test whether specially designed “enhanced” consent procedures might be more appropriate for people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s who cannot complete standard consent forms.

You may qualify if you

• have a diagnosis of probable or possible mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease
• are 50 years old or older

You may not qualify if you

• have a form of dementia that is not Alzheimer’s, including Lewy body dementia or mild cognitive impairment
• have physical or medical impairments that prevent you from completing study tasks

Partners in Dementia Care
Sponsored by: Department of Veterans Affairs; Benjamin Rose Institute
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00291161
Study Phase: Not applicable

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
Four study locations around the United States
Brian Murry, M.S., 1.713.794.8668
murry@bcm.tmc.edu
Mark E Kunik, M.D. M.P.H., 1.713.794.8639
mkunik@bcm.tmc.edu

Study Purpose
Partners in Dementia Care is a care and support service designed for veterans with dementia, as well as their families and caregivers. This study will test the effectiveness of the program, assessing its ability to 1) promote the emotional and physical well-being of both the person with dementia and the caregiver and 2) to improve the caregiver-patient relationship.

You may qualify if you

• have a diagnosis of dementia or of probable or possible Alzheimer’s disease
• are a veteran
• use a local Alzheimer’s Association chapter service in Houston, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Boston, Massachusetts; or Providence, Rhode Island

You may not qualify if you

• live in a long-term care facility

Enhancing Care Coordination: Hospital to Home for Cognitively Impaired Older Adults and Their Caregivers
Sponsored by: University of Pennsylvania National Institute on Aging (NIA)
ClinicalTrials.gov #: NCT00294307
Study Phase: Phase I and Phase II

Study Location(s) and Contact Information
Three study locations in Philadelphia
Mary D Naylor, Ph.D., 1.215.898.6088
naylor@nursing.upenn.edu
Karen B Hirschman, Ph.D., 1.215.573.3755
hirschk@nursing.upenn.edu

Study Purpose
This study will compare the effectiveness of three different methods of caring for people with cognitive impairment. All three methods involve both hospital care and home care. Part of this study will test whether registered nurses can improve their ability to care for people with cognitive loss by using specially designed “enhanced” clinical procedures.

You may qualify if you

• have a diagnosis of dementia
• are 65 years old or older
• reside within 30 miles of an admitting hospital site
• are a primary caregiver

You may not qualify if you

• have an end-stage disease