New palliative care program aims to ease suffering for dementia patients and families

NCT ID NCT04948866

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested a special palliative care program for people with late-stage Alzheimer's or related dementias and their family caregivers. The program started during a hospital stay and included caregiver education and support to reduce hospital transfers and improve symptom control. Researchers enrolled 884 participants to see if this approach could lessen burdens on both patients and caregivers.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Palliative care program including caregiver education and transitional care
What this could lead to: If successful, this program could improve quality of life for patients and reduce stress for caregivers by better managing symptoms and avoiding unnecessary hospital stays.
What could go wrong: This is a completed study, so results are available but may not apply to all settings. The program requires hospital-based triggers, which may limit its use in other care environments.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Alzheimer disease dementia frontotemporal dementia Lewy body dementia Lewy Body Disease Mixed Dementias vascular dementia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ALZHEIMER DISEASE DEMENTIA DEMENTIA ALZHEIMERS DEMENTIA FRONTAL DEMENTIA SEVERE DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES DEMENTIA, MIXED DEMENTIA, VASCULAR

Contacts and locations

Locations

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
Indiana University

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
University of Colorado Denver

Denver, Colorado, 80045, United States
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

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