The Nightlight Falls Prevention Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL · Jul 31, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Nightlight Falls Prevention Study is testing whether a subtle, low-intensity lighting system placed along doorframes and in bathrooms can help people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias stay steadier at night and reduce nighttime falls in assisted living. In this randomized crossover trial, 335 residents across 36 assisted living communities will experience both the new lighting and the standard night light over one year, in four different sequences. The lights will be turned on or off by research staff during planned visits, and each participant will have periods with the novel lighting and periods with the usual lighting, without long gaps between changes. Falls will be tracked with a privacy-protecting fall-detection system.

Who may be eligible? Adults with a dementia diagnosis who live in a participating assisted living community can join if they have a private room (or a certain type of shared room with a divider), are not blind, not on hospice and not expected to die or transfer in the next six months. The study is led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and aims to learn whether this simple lighting change can lower the number of nighttime falls and whether any factors about residents or their environment influence the effect. If you participate, you’ll contribute to knowledge that could improve safety and quality of life for people living with dementia in care settings. The trial is currently enrolling by invitation and is expected to finish around 2027.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• 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