Living Alone in Old Age With Cognitive Impairment

The purpose of this study is to better understand the experience of living alone in older age with cognitive impairment.

We recruit adults 55+ living alone with cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment.

This study investigates the priorities and concerns of older adults living alone with cognitive impairment. Participants are interviewed 5 times for one hour in their homes within 3 months at a time that works for them.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Alzheimer Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Living Alone

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to better understand the experience of living alone in older age with cognitive impairment. This knowledge is important to design programs that are appropriate. Dr. Elena Portacolone, an Assistant Professor from the Institute of Health and Aging is the study researcher.

Study participants are interviewed by Elena at a time and place convenient to them, usually their home. Interviews are audio recorded and last around one hour. Study participants are interviewed five times within 3 months.

After the interview, a transcriptionist will type into a computer the recording and will remove personal names. The sound recording will then be destroyed.

Participants can stop being in the study at any time.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • San Francisco, California, United States, 94705
      • Institute for Health & Aging

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 55 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Persons over 55 years of age living alone and having a medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Living alone
• Medical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Living in nursing homes, assistive living facilities.
• Alcohol abuse

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ethnographic interviews	Questions that follow the train of thought of study participants	One hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elena Portacolone, PhD MPH MBA, University of California, San Francisco

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• The investigator discusses her study

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 30, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): November 6, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 17, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Dementia; Tauopathies; Cognition Disorders; Alzheimer Disease; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01AG069147 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No