Evaluating a National Person-Centered Training Program to Strengthen the Dementia Care Workforce
Who can join
Ages 18 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: AL Staff: * Staff (part-time, full-time, and including contract staff) who provide direct care to residents at the participating assisted living community (e.g., certified nursing assistants, personal care aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, activity directors, social workers, and others) as determined by the administrator/health care supervisor * Are 18 years of age or older * Are able to read and speak English fluently Family: * Resident not expected to die or be transferred in the next six months at baseline * At follow-up, resident lived in AL community at least one month during the three months prior to interview date * Are a family member/legally authorized representative (LAR), or designated contact of a resident with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) of a participating AL community * Are 18 years of age or older * Are English speaking * Visit the resident at least monthly Exclusion Criteria: AL Staff \& Family: \- Are under 18 years of age
About the study
This project will compare two training models of an evidence-based online dementia care training program for direct care staff in assisted living to a waitlist control: 1) essentiALZ training and 2) essentiALZ training + Project ECHO. It will examine the extent to which each model is implemented and achieves its intended outcomes to improve staff knowledge and attitudes, change care practices, and improve the wellbeing of staff, residents, and residents' family members. Results will inform next steps in dementia care training for the assisted living (AL) and broader long-term care workforce.
To examine these outcomes, data will be collected from AL staff and families over the course of 6 months. Staff will complete questionnaires and participate in interviews (as applicable) at baseline, post-training, 3-months, and 6-months. Families will participate in interviews at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months.
What is being tested
- essentiALZ (behavioral)
- Project ECHO (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Participants: 1,764 · Started: Apr 12, 2024
Contact the study team
- Johanna Hickey, MSW · Phone: 9198433085
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06239688
Locations in the U.S.
| North Carolina | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.