Connect-Home: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (CH-ADRD)

March 27, 2026 updated by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Transitional Care for Skilled Nursing Facility Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and Their Caregivers: a Cluster Randomized Trial

This study is a parallel arm, cluster randomized trial (CRT) to test the efficacy of Connect-Home ADRD, a transitional care intervention focusing on Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementias and their caregivers during transitions from SNFs to home, assisted, living, and long-term care. The primary hypothesis is that the intervention will reduce caregiver strain (Aim 1) and patient neuropsychiatric symptoms (Aim 2).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

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

Connect-Home ADRD is a Donabedian-guided intervention that introduces new structure and processes to support Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) staff delivery of transitional care for transitions to home, assisted living, or long-term care, and post-discharge transitional care by the Dementia Caregiving Specialist (DCS).

The research objective is to test the efficacy of Connect-Home ADRD, a transitional care intervention, targeting Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their primary caregivers who discharge home and other settings of care. The study will be set in 12 North Carolina SNFs and in the patient's discharge destination (during intervention periods only). Using a cluster-randomized trial design, twelve SNFs will be randomly allocated to an intervention group (N=6 SNFs) and to a control group (N=6 SNFs) by a study statistician masked to SNF identity. 360 dyads of SNF patients with ADRD and caregivers will be enrolled in 12 SNFs.

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.
360

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
        • Recruiting
        • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Laura Hanson, MD

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:

Patients:

  • Ability to speak English
  • Goal of discharge to home, assisted living, or long-term care
  • Diagnosis of dementia
  • Having a caregiver willing to participate

Caregivers:

  • Ability to speak English
  • Legally authorized representative (LAR) who also provides support for the person with ADRD

Inclusion criteria for SNFs:

  • Location within 120 miles of UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Admission of at least 75 SNF patients per year

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients:

  • Planned hospital readmission for procedures or treatments within 30 days post enrollment.

Caregivers:

  • LAR is a court-appointed guardian.

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel 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.
Experimental: Connect-Home ADRD Intervention

The Connect-Home ADRD Intervention will include:

  1. Support for SNF staff delivery of transitional care processes including a ADRD transition plan and booklet, caregiver training and engagement, and handoff of care to community providers and Dementia Caregiving Specialist.
  2. Support for patients and caregivers provided by the Dementia Caregiving Specialist in three follow-up supportive telephone calls within 30 days of SNF discharge.
Behavioral: Connect-Home ADRD
Connect-Home ADRD will introduce new structure and processes to support SNF staff delivery of transitional care for transitions to home, assisted living, or long-term care, and post-discharge transitional care by the Dementia Caregiving Specialist.
No Intervention: Standard Care - Control Group
Patient and caregiver dyad randomized to the control arm will receive usual SNF and post-discharge care.

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
Caregiver Strain
Time Frame: 30 days after discharge from SNF
Modified Caregiver Strain Index Score (MCSI): 13 yes-no items, measure indicators of caregiver strain over the past 30 days. Summary score ranges from 0-26, higher scores indicating greater strain.
30 days after discharge from SNF
Patient Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
Time Frame: 30 days after discharge from SNF
Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Q (NPI-Q): 12 items on a 3-point scale, measures presence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms over the past 30 days. Summary score ranges from 0-36, higher scores associated with more severe symptoms.
30 days after discharge from SNF

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Caregiver Depression
Time Frame: 30 days after discharge from SNF
Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8): 9 items on a 4-point scale, measures depressive symptoms over the past 30 days. Scores range from 0-27, higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.
30 days after discharge from SNF
Preparedness for care transitions
Time Frame: 30 days after discharge from SNF
Care Transitions Measure-15 (CTM-15): 15 items on a 4-point scale, measures self-reported knowledge to continue care after discharge. Summary score ranges from 0-100, higher scores associated with less acute care use after discharge.
30 days after discharge from SNF
Patient Quality of Life
Time Frame: 30 days after discharge from SNF
Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD): 13 items on a 4-point scale measuring caregiver-reported quality of life in people with ADRD over the past 30 days. Summary scores range from 13-52, with higher scores indicating higher quality of life.
30 days after discharge from SNF
Acute Care Use
Time Frame: 30 days after discharge from SNF
Caregiver-reported days of emergency department and hospital use in 30 days after SNF discharge.
30 days after discharge from SNF

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 of Nursing Research (NINR)

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: Mark Toles, PhD, RN, 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.
April 4, 2025

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.
June 30, 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.
June 30, 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).
February 17, 2025

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.
February 17, 2025

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.
February 21, 2025

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.
March 30, 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.
March 27, 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.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • 24-2766
  • 2R01NR017636-05A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

9 to 36 months following publication

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Data may be requested to achieve aims in an approved proposal if an investigator has approval from an IRB, IEC, or REB and an executed 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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