The Nightlight Falls Prevention Study

April 17, 2026 updated by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

A Pragmatic Crossover Trial to Test the Effectiveness of a Novel Lighting System to Reduce Nighttime Falls in Persons With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

This project will test the effectiveness of a novel intervention consisting of unobtrusive, low-intensity, horizontal and vertical lights that outline the bathroom or entry way doorframe in residents' rooms and provide visual cues to promote postural stability. Specifically, this pragmatic crossover trial will enroll 335 assisted living residents with dementia and follow them for one year, comparing the incidence of nighttime falls during the lighting condition to the incidence of falls during the control condition; secondarily, it will determine whether and to what extent the intervention effect is modified by resident- and environmental-level risk factors, and satisfaction with the lighting system.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Falls are the primary cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among persons 65 years of age and older. Dementia is a major risk factors for falls, and assisted living (AL) communities are the primary provider of residential care for ambulatory older adults with dementia, making AL a critical setting in which to reduce falls. Forty-two percent of the more than 811,000 AL residents across the U.S. have moderate or severe dementia, 84% are ambulatory, and more than a third experience a fall in a six-month period, putting them among the 15% of AL residents who suffer a hip fracture or other serious fall-related injury each year. Falls are responsible for one-third of all hospitalizations of AL residents, and the resulting injuries may lead to a cascade of events, including worsening function, nursing home transfer, and death.

A significant number of these falls occur in the bedroom during the evening and night, when AL staff are not present, thereby limiting their ability to intervene. However, the cause of many of these falls -- impaired nighttime vision and related postural instability -- suggests a promising avenue for intervention.

This project will test the effectiveness of a novel intervention consisting of unobtrusive, low-intensity, horizontal and vertical lights that outline the bathroom or entry way doorframe in residents' rooms and provide visual cues to promote postural stability. The lighting system is particularly attractive and pragmatic because it is low cost, requires no staff involvement, and can be easily installed in new buildings or retrofitted to existing buildings.

The study investigators recently completed a NIH R21 exploratory/developmental randomized crossover trial of this system and found a 34% decrease in falls due to a novel lighting intervention. This NIH R01 project will build on that preliminary effort; if the results are as promising as suggested, this pragmatic passive lighting system has the potential to reduce falls and related sequelae for countless persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and to become a new standard of care.

The intervention being tested is the effectiveness of a novel intervention consisting of unobtrusive, low-intensity, horizontal and vertical lights that outline the bathroom or entry way doorframe in assisted living (AL) residents' rooms in preventing night time falls. The trial will enroll 335 AL residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) from 36 assisted living communities. The lighting will be installed in the rooms of all 335 enrolled AL residents and compared to standard nightlights (control condition). Using a randomized crossover trial design, subjects will be examined under both conditions over one year. The trial will enroll 36 communities over the course of three years. Falls will be measured using SafelyYou, a fall detection system that uses video cameras and artificial intelligence to detect falls in resident rooms while maintaining resident privacy."

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
335

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
        • University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Has a diagnosis of dementia
  • Lives in a participating AL community
  • Not blind
  • Not on hospice and in a worsening state
  • Not expected to die or transfer during the next 6 months

  • Reside in a private room; or reside in a shared room if

    1. one resident is male and one is female and both are participating in the project, or
    2. they are of any gender, as long as there is a wall divider between their bedrooms
  • Do not have an overnight sitter in the room every night

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: Lighting Sequence 1: CCLL

In this arm, the participant will receive the control lighting condition (C) for the first two quarters (180 days) and then crossover to the novel lighting condition (L) for the last two quarters (180 days).

Q1 - Control lighting Q2 - Control lighting Q3 - Novel lighting Q4 - Novel lighting
Other: Novel Lighting Condition
Horizontal and vertical lights over a doorway visible from the bed
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "L"
Other: Control Lighting Condition
Standard night light plugged into wall socket
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "C"
Other: Lighting Sequence 2: CLLC

In this arm, the participant will receive the control lighting condition (C) for the first quarter (90 days) and then crossover to the novel lighting condition (L) for the next two quarters (180 days) and finally crossover again to the control condition (C) for the last quarter (90 days).

Q1 - Control lighting Q2 - Novel lighting Q3 - Novel lighting Q4 - Control lighting
Other: Novel Lighting Condition
Horizontal and vertical lights over a doorway visible from the bed
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "L"
Other: Control Lighting Condition
Standard night light plugged into wall socket
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "C"
Other: Lighting Sequence 3: LCCL

In this arm, the participant will receive the novel lighting condition (L) for the first quarter (90 days) and then crossover to the control lighting condition (C) for the next two quarters (180 days) and finally crossover again to the novel condition (L) for the last quarter (90 days).

Q1 - Novel lighting Q2 - Control lighting Q3 - Control lighting Q4 - Novel lighting
Other: Novel Lighting Condition
Horizontal and vertical lights over a doorway visible from the bed
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "L"
Other: Control Lighting Condition
Standard night light plugged into wall socket
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "C"
Other: Lighting Sequence 4: LLCC

In this arm, the participant will receive the novel lighting condition (L) for the first two quarters (180 days) and then crossover to the control lighting condition (C) for the last two quarters (180 days).

Q1 - Novel lighting Q2 - Novel lighting Q3 - Control lighting Q4 - Control lighting
Other: Novel Lighting Condition
Horizontal and vertical lights over a doorway visible from the bed
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "L"
Other: Control Lighting Condition
Standard night light plugged into wall socket
Other Names:
  • Indicated in sequence by "C"

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Falls incidence density ratio
Time Frame: At study completion (one year)
(Number of falls/Number of Nights Novel) / (Number of falls/Number of Nights Control)
At study completion (one year)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 28, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 21, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 31, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 2, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 17, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 22-1162
  • 1R01AG075010-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

With the exception of the falls video clips, all other individual participant data collected during the trial will be shared after deidentification.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

An investigator who proposes to use the data must have approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and execute a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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