Participants needed for study to improve dementia care

Do you know someone with dementia?

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), University of California- San Francisco, and Care Ecosystems are looking for participants for a study to help improve dementia care for patients and their caregivers. This project is funded by a 3-year, $10 million Healthcare Innovations Award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid. Those who participate in the study will be randomly selected to join one of two groups: the Survey Group or the Navigated Care Group.

The study may last up to two years, dependent upon when the participant joins. Care Ecosystems will collect the health insurance claims to measure health insurance cost, but all participants will continue to see their regular medical providers.

Survey Group: The purpose of this group is to help the researchers gain an understanding of the kind of care that dementia patients are receiving. Patients and their caregivers will be contacted every six months via phone for a survey.

Navigated Care Group: Patients and their caregivers will be assigned a Care Team Navigator (CTN). These CTNs will help guide them through the challenges of dementia care and be the contact person for questions and help. This group will assist the researchers in understanding if having a supportive care team can improve patient and caregiver quality of life. This group will have access to supportive services such as medications, caregiver support, functional monitoring, and decision-making.

The researchers will:

• Call every month to offer support, resources, and education
• Do a phone survey every six months
• Ask for feedback about the care program

To participate, the patient must:

• Be 45 or older
• Have Dementia
• Be covered by Medicare/Medicaid
• Live in California, Nebraska, or Iowa
• Have a primary caregiver
• Not live in a nursing home

If you have any questions regarding the study, contact:

Jackie Whittington

Phone: (402) 559-6117

Email: care.eco@unmc.edu

Fax: (402) 559-3877

Web: www.umnc.edu/careecosystem