PLAN: Dementia Literacy Education and Navigation for Korean Elders With Probable Dementia and Their Caregivers

Launched by JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · Apr 8, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The PLAN trial is studying how an education and support program can help Korean American elders who may have dementia and their caregivers. Many Korean American seniors face challenges in accessing proper dementia care, so this research aims to provide guidance through trained community health workers. The trial will involve 288 pairs of elders and their caregivers and will compare the benefits of this program with usual care. Researchers want to see if participating in PLAN helps improve the caregivers' understanding of dementia, their confidence in providing care, and overall quality of life for both the elders and their caregivers.

To participate, elders must be Korean American, aged 65 or older, and have some signs of dementia. They also need a caregiver who lives with them or sees them regularly. Caregivers should be at least 18 years old and able to read and speak Korean. Throughout the study, participants can expect to receive helpful resources and support to create a better care plan for dementia. This trial is important because it aims to improve access to dementia care for a community that has been underserved in the past.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Patient Inclusion Criteria:
• • Self-identified as first-generation KA
• • Age 65 years or older
• • CDR 1.0+
• • Has a caregiver who lives in the same household or has at least weekly interactions
• • Able to consent or has a proxy available for consent
• • Written consent to participate in the study
• Caregiver Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 18 years or older
• • Able to read and speak Korean
• • Lives in the same household with the elder or has at least weekly interactions
• • Written consent to participate in the study and to allow the team to audit medical records for linkage to medical service for dementia
• Patient Exclusion Criteria:
• • Previous diagnosis of dementia
• • All Axis I diagnoses other than depressive disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder)
• • Neurological disorders other than Alzheimer's disease that might affect cognition (e.g., stroke)
• • Use of psychotropic drugs including antipsychotics,
• Caregiver Exclusion Criteria:
• • Plan to move from the area within 6 months
• • Active treatment for a terminal illness or in hospice