Long-term Care Placement Research Articles

Pilot Study of the Residential Care Transition Module to Support Australian Spouses of People with Dementia

ABSTRACT Objectives Spouses are at risk of poor psychosocial outcomes following placement of their partner with dementia into long-term care. The Residential Care Transition Module (RCTM) is a psychosocial intervention developed in the United States to support carers post-placement. This study aimed to test the RCTM delivered by telephone to Australian spousal carers. Methods A small-scale RCT [N = 21] was conducted to test feasibility of recruitment, retention, acceptability, and preliminary effects on measures of stress, grief, depression, guilt, quality-of-life, and satisfaction with care, compared to a group receiving printed information. Results The Transition Counselor and study participants considered the intervention delivery, dose, and content as acceptable. Retention was high (91%). At follow-up, significant time effects were found for stress, depression and “nursing home hassles.” A significant interaction effect was found for quality-of-life in favor of the comparison group. No effects were found for guilt or overall grief, however a promising result regarding the sub-scale of “acceptance of loss” was found in favor of the RCTM. Conclusions The delivery of the RCTM to Australian spousal carers was feasible and acceptable. Clinical implications The RCTM shows potential for improving support to spouses of people with dementia following long-term care placement.

Unmet needs and health-related quality of life of dementia family caregivers transitioning from home to long-term care: A scoping review

This scoping review is to identify experiences, unmet needs, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of family caregivers transitioning their care recipients with dementia into long-term care (LTC). The methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley guided the review. Themes from nineteen selected studies were organized around three categories. First, caregiver experiences during LTC placement featured challenges around placement decision-making and distress and changes in relationships and responsibilities. Second, unmet needs of caregivers were desired emotional support and information about transitions. Finally, caregivers’ HRQoL varies around transition. Family caregivers experience unique challenges and can have unmet needs during the LTC placement of their care recipients with dementia. Findings suggest the need for interventions that teach skills, care planning, assistance with conflict resolution, communication training, and guidance finding services and resources.

Long-term care placement: The transitional support needs and preferences of spousal dementia caregivers.

Many spousal caregivers experience stress, depression, loneliness, guilt and grief when placing a partner with dementia into long-term care. However, there is little research about their transitional support experiences, needs and preferences. This study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of these issues from spousal caregiver and long-term care facility staff perspectives, to inform subsequent support and intervention development. Semi-structured interviews and small group discussions were held separately with spousal caregivers (n = 9) and care facility staff (n = 11). Criterion and variation sampling aimed to ensure a range of experiences and perspectives. The 'Framework' approach was utilised for data analysis. Interpretation was with respect to underpinning models of stress-grief process in dementia caregiving. A range of informational, psychoeducational and psychosocial supports were identified to help spousal caregivers cope better with the stressors and losses experienced throughout the transition from home to long-term care. Improved education about disease progression, information relating to long-term care provision, peer support and dementia-specific grief counselling were deemed important. Opportunities for better support within care facilities were also identified. Support should be tailored to individual needs and preferences. The findings suggest a supportive care framework be developed, encompassing the trajectory from assessment for and admission into long-term care to end-of-life and post-bereavement support. Spousal caregivers should have their support needs assessed by trained health or social care professionals and be offered a range of support options as appropriate.

Derivation and Validation of a Predictive Algorithm for Long-Term Care Admission or Death

ObjectivesOlder veterans prefer to remain in their homes and communities as long as possible. Although targeted delivery of home- and community-based services for veterans might delay long-term care placement, often, access to these services is inconsistently organized or delayed. To aid in early recognition of veterans at high risk for long-term care placement or death, we developed and validated a predictive algorithm, “Choose Home.” DesignA retrospective observational cohort analysis was used. Setting and ParticipantsTwo cohorts of Veterans Health Administration (VHA; a large integrated health care system) users were assembled: Derivation (4.6 million) and Confirmation (4.7 million). The Derivation Cohort included Veterans Administration users from fiscal year 2013; the Confirmation Cohort included Veterans Administration users from fiscal year 2014. MethodsA total of 148 predictor variables, including demographics, comorbidities, and utilizations were selected using logistic regression to predict placement in a long-term care facility for >90 days or death within 2 years. ResultsVeterans were predominantly male [92.8% (Derivation), 92.5% (Confirmation)] and older [61.7±15.5 (Derivation), 61.5±15.6 years (Confirmation)], with a high prevalence of comorbid conditions. Between the Derivation and Confirmation Cohorts, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were found to be 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.799, 0.802] and 0.80 (95% CI 0.800, 0.802), respectively, indicating good discrimination for determining at-risk veterans. Conclusions and ImplicationsWe created a predictive algorithm that identifies veterans at highest risk for long-term institutionalization or death. This algorithm provides clinicians with information that can proactively inform clinical decision making and care coordination. This study provides the groundwork for future investigations on how home- and community-based services can target older adults at highest risk to extend time in their communities.

A Predictive Model of Intrinsic Factors Associated with Long-Stay Nursing Home Care After Hospitalization.

We aimed to build a predictive model with intrinsic factors measured upon admission to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) post-acute care (PAC) to identify older adults transferred from SNFs to long-term care (LTC) instead of home. We analyzed data from Massachusetts in 23,662 persons admitted to SNFs from PAC in 2013. Explanatory logistic regression analysis identified single "intrinsic predictors" related to LTC placement. To assess overfitting, the logistic regression predictive model was cross-validated and evaluated by its receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A 12-variable predictive model with "intrinsic predictors" demonstrated both high in-sample and out-of-sample predictive accuracy in the receiver operating characteristic ROC and area under the ROC among patients at risk of LTC placement. This predictive model may be used for early identification of patients at risk for LTC after hospitalization in order to support targeted rehabilitative approaches and resource planning.

Dementia and Poor Continuity of Primary Care Delay Hospital Discharge in Older Adults: A Population-Based Study From 2001 to 2016

ObjectivesDelayed discharge, remaining in acute care longer than medically necessary, reflects less than optimal use of hospital care resources and can have negative implications for patients. We studied (1) the change over time in delayed discharge in people with and without dementia, and (2) the association of delayed discharge with discharge destination and with the continuity of primary care prior to urgent admission. DesignA retrospective population-based study. Setting and ParticipantsDelayed discharge after urgent admission and length of delayed discharge were studied in all hospital users aged ≥70 years with at least 1 urgent admission in British Columbia, Canada, in years 2001/02, 2005/06, 2010/11, and 2015/16 (N = 276,299). MethodsLinked administrative data provided by Population Data BC were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE), logistic regression analysis, and negative binomial regression analyses. ResultsDelayed discharge increased among people with dementia and decreased among people without dementia, whereas the length of delay decreased among both. Dementia was the strongest predictor of delayed discharge [odds ratio 4.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.59–4.93], whereas waiting for long-term care placement [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.56; 95% CI 1.50–1.62] and dementia (IRR 1.50; 95% CI 1.45–1.54) predicted a higher number of days of delay. Continuity and quantity of care with the same physician before urgent admission was associated with a decreased risk of delayed discharge, especially in people with dementia. Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study demonstrates the need for better system integration and patient-centered care especially for people with dementia. Population aging will likely increase the number of patients at risk of delayed discharge. Delayed discharge is associated with both the patient's complex needs and the inability of the system to meet these needs during and after urgent care. Sufficient investments are needed in both primary care and long-term care resources to reduce delayed discharges.

Mortality and Health Outcomes for Older Adults Screened by an Area Agency on Aging Over a 4.5-Year Period

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) screen older adults and oversee delivery of a wide range of home- and community-based services (HCBS). We examined the assessment process, services, and mortality and health outcomes for older adults screened by an Area Agency on Aging in west-central Florida. Most were self/family referred (78.9%). Using data from July 2013-December 2018, 23,225 older adults were screened. Individuals had an average of 2.6 years follow-up in the dataset, during which time 63.6% received additional assessments: follow-up screening (50.6%), comprehensive assessment for enrollment in HCBS (35.7%), or assessments for congregate meals or other services (13.7%). Results revealed differences in mortality: 22.5% of clients receiving services died compared to 32.1% of clients prioritized as lower risk and on waiting lists for services. Long-term care placement and functional decline outcomes also will be reviewed, along with implications for service delivery and managing waitlists.

Namaste care delivered by caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with moderate to advanced dementia: A mixed methods study protocol.

The aim of this study is to adapt and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a multisensory, psychosocial intervention called Namaste Care delivered by family and friend caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with moderate to advanced dementia. A multiphase mixed methods design combining quantitative and qualitative methods will be used. This study is composed of two phases. Phase 1 is guided by a qualitative description approach. Small group workshop sessions with 8-10 caregivers of community-dwelling older adults with moderate to advanced dementia will be conducted to adapt Namaste Care. In Phase 2, 10-20 caregivers will receive training and implement the adapted Namaste Care approach at home. A one group, before-after design will be used to evaluate feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of the approach over 3months. Feasibility will be assessed using quantitative measures and acceptability will be explored using qualitative methods. Outcomes to evaluate preliminary effectiveness include quality of life (QoL), positive perceptions of caregiving, self-efficacy, and caregiver burden. There are currently few skill-building interventions that can be delivered by caregivers of people with moderate to advanced dementia at home. Caregivers should be involved in developing programs to enhance program relevance. This research will be the first to explore the feasibility of implementing the Namaste Care approach at home by caregivers. Study results will provide important information about the feasibility and preliminary effects of an adapted form of Namaste Care. This program has the potential to improve the QoL of caregivers and may prevent hospitalization or long-term care placement of older persons with moderate to advanced dementia. The revised Namaste Care program supports building the skills of caregivers so that their needs and the needs of older persons with dementia living at home are being addressed.

Interventions for Family Members After Long-Term Care Placement of a Relative With Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The current systematic review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the available evidence regarding interventions that assisted family members of long-term care facility residents with dementia to cope with stressful situations. A search of published articles in eight databases was performed. In total, 1,293 records were identified, with six studies included in this systematic review. Interventions were categorized as education/skill training, psychoeducation, and psychosocial support. The risk of bias across the included studies varied from moderate to high. The intervention components, dose, and delivery methods differed widely with mixed results. The interventions showed potential benefits for reducing family members' stress-related outcomes (e.g., stress appraisal, guilt) and residents' problematic behaviors. Yet, meta-analysis yielded a non-significant pooled effect for reducing family members' depressive symptoms (mean difference = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [-2.27, 5.04], p = 0.46). Evidence in this field is currently insufficient and more well-designed studies with larger sample sizes and use of theoretical frameworks are needed. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 14(1), 43-52.].

Describing Differences Among Recent Immigrants and Long-Standing Residents Waiting for Long-Term Care: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

ObjectivesImmigrants often face many unique cultural and logistical challenges in their health care that differ from nonimmigrants. We sought to describe and compare characteristics and the time to placement between recent immigrants and long-standing residents waiting for long-term care (LTC). DesignPopulation-based retrospective cohort study using linked health administrative data. Setting/ParticipantsWe examined all Ontario residents aged 65 years or older who were placed on the LTC waitlist between January 2007 and December 2010. We defined recent immigrants as those granted permanent residency or citizenship status in Canada after 1985; all others were defined as long-standing residents. MethodsThe primary outcome was the number of days on the waitlist before LTC entry, indexed on the incident waitlist record, with a maximum follow-up until December 2012. A generalized estimating equation model was used to identify factors associated with the number of days spent waiting for LTC entry. ResultsWe identified 56,031 individuals on the LTC waitlist, among whom 3.0% were recent immigrants. Compared with long-standing residents, recent immigrants were younger (age ≥80: 66.6% vs. 72.7%), from lower income neighborhoods (bottom 2 brackets: 50.0% vs. 44.0%), and had fewer comorbidities (≥5: 41.6% vs. 36.5%). A larger proportion of caregivers of recent immigrants reported being unable to continue providing care (21.6% vs. 16.7%) and expressed greater feelings of distress (26.9% vs. 20.7%). The median wait time to LTC placement was 165 days for immigrants versus 126 days for long-standing residents. Applying to a cultural/ethnic-specific home [Arithmetic Mean Ratio (AMR) = 1.32, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.11–1.56] and being an immigrant (AMR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.15–1.30) was associated with significantly longer wait times to placement, adjusting for covariates. Conclusions/ImplicationsRecent immigrants vary considerably from long-standing residents, and tend to wait longer to be placed into LTC homes. Future research is necessary to understand how we can reduce wait times to LTC entry for the aging population, with a particular focus on immigrants who are often highly disadvantaged.

Trajectories of health system use and survival for community-dwelling persons with dementia: a cohort study

ObjectivesTo determine the long-term trajectories of health system use by persons with dementia as they remain in the community over time.DesignPopulation-based cohort study using health administrative data.SettingOntario, Canada from 1...

Mood Disorders in Late Life: A Population-based Analysis of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Consequences in Community-dwelling Older Adults in Ontario: Troubles de l'humeur en âge avancé : Une analyse dans la population de la prévalence, des facteurs de risque et des conséquences chez des adultes âgés vivant en milieu communautaire en Ontario.

Objective:Mental health issues in late life are a growing public health challenge as the population aged 65 and older rapidly increases worldwide. An updated understanding of the causes of mood disorders and their consequences in late life could guide interventions for this underrecognized and undertreated problem. We undertook a population-based analysis to quantify the prevalence of mood disorders in late life in Ontario, Canada, and to identify potential risk factors and consequences.Method:Individuals aged 65 or older participating in 4 cycles of a nationally representative survey were included. Self-report of a diagnosed mood disorder was used as the outcome measure. Using linked administrative data, we quantified associations between mood disorder and potential risk factors such as demographic/socioeconomic factors, substance use, and comorbidity. We also determined associations between mood disorders and 5-year outcomes including health service utilization and mortality.Results:The prevalence of mood disorders was 6.1% (4.9% among males, 7.1% among females). Statistically significant associations with mood disorders included younger age, female sex, food insecurity, chronic opioid use, smoking, and morbidity. Individuals with mood disorders had increased odds of all consequences examined, including placement in long-term care (adjusted odds ratio [OR] =2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71 to 3.02) and death (adjusted OR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.63).Conclusions:Mood disorders in late life were strongly correlated with demographic and social/behavioral factors, health care use, institutionalization, and mortality. Understanding these relationships provides a basis for potential interventions to reduce the occurrence of mood disorders in late life and their consequences.

FAMILY DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS’ EPIPHANIES AND CHANGES IN THEIR APPROACH TO CARING FOLLOWING THE VIRTUAL DEMENTIA TOUR

Previous interventional studies have failed to show long-term improvements in caregiver stress, health indices, burden, or delay in long-term care placement. The Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT) provides a vicarious first-person perspective of symptoms related to dementia. This interpretative phenomenological study revealed family dementia caregivers’ perceptions of the VDT® and its impact on their perception of a person living with dementia. In-depth open semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten VDT® participants following a community event. Participants’ statements described a life-changing process with eye-opening epiphanies about the lived experience of dementia and served as a “call to action” to change their approach to caring. Innovative advances in family caregiving research are critical to support this valuable geriatric workforce. This original study provided new knowledge about the value of the VDT® to inform interventions that harness the unrecognized power of vicarious experiences like the VDT® for family dementia caregivers to improve long-term outcomes.

Foster carers make a connection at activity days

Coram's Fostering Activity Days help prospective foster carers and children to get to know each other, leading to better matches for long-term care placements

Comparing Changes and Transitions of Home Care Clients in Retirement Homes and Private Homes

Long-stay home care clients mostly reside in private homes or retirement homes, and the type of residence may influence risk factors for long-term care placement. This multi-state analytic study uses RAI-Home Care and administrative data from the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network to model conceptualized states of risk at baseline through a 13-month follow-up period. Modifiable risk factors in these states were client loneliness or depressive symptoms, and caregiver distress. A higher adjusted likelihood of being discharged deceased was found for the lowest-risk clients in retirement homes. Adjusting for client, service, and caregiver characteristics, retirement home residency was associated with higher likelihood of placement in a long-term care home; reduced caregiver distress; and increased client loneliness/depression. As an alternative to private home settings as the location for aging in place among these long-stay home care clients, retirement home residency represents some trade-offs between client and informal caregiver.

Caregiver Choice and Caregiver Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Irish Spousal Dementia Caregivers.

BackgroundThe perception of choice in becoming a caregiver may impact on caregiver psychological and physical health. We determined the proportion of spousal dementia caregivers who felt they had a choice, and examined whether lack of choice in taking up the caregiving role and the perceived degree of choice in caregiving predicted caregiver health and wellbeing and care-recipient placement in long-term care at 1-year follow-up.MethodsWe performed secondary analyses of data from DeStress, a longitudinal study of 251 spousal dementia caregivers in Ireland. We used multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses to examine whether lack of choice (a dichotomous item) and/or the perceived degree of choice (a 9-point scale) at baseline predicted caregiver health (number of chronic health conditions; self-reported health) and wellbeing (e.g., burden, anxiety, depression, stress, and positive aspects of caregiving) and care status (continued care at home or placement in long-term care) at follow-up.ResultsThe vast majority of caregivers (82%) reported that they had no choice in taking up the caregiving role. Nevertheless, nearly three-quarters (74%) responded above the midpoint on the rating scale (Mean = 6.82, SD = 3.22; Median = 9; Mode = 9), indicating they provided care voluntarily. Caregivers who reported a greater degree of choice were more likely to still be providing care at home at follow-up and to identify benefits from providing care. Neither choice nor degree of choice predicted any other caregiver outcomes.ConclusionFor the vast majority of spousal dementia caregivers, taking up the caregiving role is not perceived as a choice; yet, most report performing this role voluntarily. Thus, facilitating greater choice may not necessarily diminish the key contribution family caregivers make to the care system. Although we found no evidence that caregiver choice predicted more positive caregiver health and wellbeing, the perception of choice is important in and of itself, and may benefit caregivers by facilitating the identification of positive aspects of care and be a factor in delaying care-recipient placement in long-term care. Future research should be especially mindful of how caregiver choice is assessed and how this may affect the resulting prevalence of choice.

Long-Term Care Admissions Following Hospitalization: The Role of Social Vulnerability.

We sought to understand the association between social vulnerability and the odds of long-term care (LTC) placement within 30 days of discharge following admission to an acute care facility and whether this association varied based on age, sex, or pre-admission frailty. Patients admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illness were enrolled in the Canadian Immunization Research Network’s Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network during the 2011/2012 influenza season. Participants (N = 475) were 65 years or older (mean = 78.6, SD = 7.9) and over half were women (58.9%). Incident LTC placement was rare (N = 15); therefore, we used penalized likelihood logistic regression analysis. Social vulnerability and frailty indices were built using a deficit accumulation approach. Social vulnerability interacted with frailty and age, but not sex. At age 70, higher social vulnerability was associated with lower odds of LTC placement at high levels of frailty (frailty index (FI) = 0.35; odds ratio (OR) = 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.09–0.94), but not at lower levels of frailty. At age 90, higher social vulnerability was associated with greater odds of LTC placement at lower levels of frailty (FI = 0.05; OR = 14.64, 95%CI = 1.55, 127.21 and FI = 0.15; OR = 7.26, 95%CI = 1.06, 41.84), but not at higher levels of frailty. Various sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Although younger, frailer participants may need LTC, they may not have anyone advocating for them. In older, healthier patients, social vulnerability was associated with increased odds of LTC placement, but there was no difference among those who were frailer, suggesting that at a certain age and frailty level, LTC placement is difficult to avoid even within supportive social situations.

Joint associations of obesity and estimated GFR with clinical outcomes: a population-based cohort study

BackgroundDespite the interrelationships between obesity, eGFR and albuminuria, few large studies examine how obesity modifies the association between these markers of kidney function and adverse clinical outcomes.MethodsWe examined the joint associations between obesity, eGFR and albuminuria on four clinical outcomes (death, end-stage renal disease [ESRD], myocardial infarction [MI], and placement in a long-term care facility) using a population-based cohort with procedures from Alberta. Obesity was defined by body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 as defined by a fee modifier applied to an eligible procedure.ResultsWe studied 1,293,362 participants, of whom 171,650 (13.3%) had documented obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 based on claims data) and 1,121,712 (86.7%) did not. The association between eGFR and death was J-shaped for participants with and without documented obesity. After full adjustment, obesity tended to be associated with slightly lower odds of mortality (OR range 0.71–1.02; p for interaction between obesity and eGFR 0.008). For participants with and without obesity, the adjusted odds of ESRD were lowest for participants with eGFR > 90 mL/min*1.73m2 and increased with lower eGFR, with no evidence of an interaction with obesity (p = 0.37). Although albuminuria and obesity were both associated with higher odds of ESRD, the excess risk associated with obesity was substantially attenuated at higher levels of albuminuria (p for interaction 0.0006). The excess risk of MI associated with obesity was observed at eGFR > 60 mL/min*1.73m2 but not at lower eGFR (p for interaction < 0.0001). Participants with obesity had a higher adjusted likelihood of placement in long-term care than those without, and the likelihood of such placement was higher at lower eGFR for those with and without obesity (p for interaction = 0.57).ConclusionsWe found significant interactions between obesity and eGFR and/or albuminuria on the likelihood of adverse outcomes including death and ESRD. Since obesity is common, risk prediction tools for people with CKD might be improved by adding information on BMI or other proxies for body size in addition to eGFR and albuminuria.

Red cell distribution width associations with clinical outcomes: A population-based cohort study.

ImportanceHigher levels of red cell distribution width (RDW) are associated with adverse outcomes, especially in selected cohorts with or at risk for chronic disease. Whether higher RDW or the related parameter standard deviation of the red blood cell distribution (SD-RBC) can predict a broader range of outcomes in the general population is unknown.ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of RDW and SD-RBC with the risk of adverse outcomes in people from the general population.DesignPopulation-based retrospective cohort study.SettingHealth care system in a Canadian province (Alberta).ParticipantsAll 3,156,863 adults living in Alberta, Canada with at least one measure of RDW and SD-RBC between 2003 and 2016. Data were analyzed in September 2018.ExposureRDW and SD-RBC, classified into percentiles (<1, 1–5, 5–25, 25–75, 75–95, 95–99, >99).Main outcomesAll-cause death, first myocardial infarction, first stroke or transient ischemic attack, placement into long-term care (LTC), progression to renal replacement therapy (initiation of chronic dialysis or pre-emptive kidney transplantation), incident solid malignancy, and first hospitalization during follow-up.ResultsOver median follow-up of 6.8 years, 209,991 of 3,156,863 participants (6.7%) died. The risk of death increased with increasing RDW percentile. After adjustment, and compared to RDW in the 25th to 75th percentiles, the risk of death was lower for participants in the <25th percentiles but higher for participants in the 75th-95th percentiles (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.40,1.43), the 95th-99th percentiles (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.83,1.89) and the >99th percentile (HR 2.18, 95% CI 2.12,2.23). Similar results were observed for MI, stroke/TIA, incident cancer, hospitalization and LTC placement, but no association was found between RDW and ESRD. Findings were generally similar for SD-RBC, except that all associations tended to be stronger than for RDW, and both lower and higher values of SD-RBC were independently associated with ESRD.Conclusion and relevanceRDW and SD-RBC may be useful as prognostic markers for people in the general population, especially for outcomes related to chronic illness. SD-RBC may be superior to RDW.

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE AGITATION AND AGGRESSION IN ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA (ECT-AD)

Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease of aging, affecting approximately 5.4 million individuals in the US, and predicted to increase to 13.8 million by 2050. Occurring in over 90% of AD patients, neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation, depression and apathy, contribute to caregiver burden and increase patient morbidity and mortality. With no FDA-approved options available, treatments for severe agitation in people with advanced dementia are limited, with modest evidence for efficacy and substantial safety concerns. Behavioral therapies are recommended as first-line treatments for agitation in AD; however, they require substantial time to take effect and may be less efficacious for the most severely agitated patients. Psychotropic medications, especially antipsychotics, are widely used off-label to treat agitation in AD even with documented limitations in efficacy and safety concerns. Therefore, new treatments for severe agitation in AD refractory to standard interventions are timely and warranted. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of severe psychiatric disorders of late life, including depression, mania and psychosis. Recently, small open label studies suggest efficacy and safety of ECT for agitation in individuals with AD who are refractory to standard therapies. The present randomized controlled trial builds upon prior work and aims to determine the efficacy and safety of ECT for severe agitation in moderate to severe stage AD, while also examining the durability of the acute treatment effect in an exploratory maintenance naturalistic design. Methods We describe an NIA-funded multi-site, single blind, randomized trial of ECT plus usual care (UC) versus Simulated-ECT (S-ECT) plus UC. We will enroll 200 inpatients with severe agitation and moderate to severe dementia, who have not responded well to prior trials of psychotropic medications. Our primary efficacy outcome measure is the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory – Clinician Version (NPI-C), Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change Scale (ADCS-CGIC), and Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) will be secondary measures. Safety and tolerability will be assessed with the Severe Impairment Battery – 8 item (SIB-8), the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), and adverse event monitoring. Results Preliminary open-label data from our team suggests acute ECT treatment is safe and effective in reducing agitation in this population as measured by the CMAI, PAS, CGI, and adverse event monitoring. A multi-site, prospective case series investigated ECT treatment in 23 consecutive inpatients with dementia and severe agitation who did not benefit from standard behavioral interventions and pharmacotherapy. Eighteen of the 23 subjects experienced a significant reduction in agitation from baseline to discharge on the CMAI. In a retrospective chart review study of 16 patients undergoing ECT for agitation related to AD, only two experienced more than transient confusion post-ECT that required treatment, and no other clinically significant adverse events were noted in this group. We hypothesize ECT+UC will be more efficacious in reducing severe agitation in AD subjects than S-ECT+UC, as measured by our primary and secondary efficacy measures, and that there will be no difference in tolerability/safety outcomes for ECT+UC and S-ECT+UC as measured by cognitive decline (SIB-8), development of delirium (CAM), and serious adverse event monitoring. Conclusions This innovative study will fill a gap in the current clinical practice of treating severe agitation in AD using a rigorous methodological approach thus providing evidence for a new therapeutic application (severe agitation in AD) of a well-studied, established, and safe treatment (ECT). Study findings may demonstrate support for a new therapeutic use of ECT for severe agitation in AD. Successful management of neuropsychiatric symptoms reduces long-term care placement, decreases the risk of mortality, and enhances patient and caregiver quality-of-life. Such an approach has the potential to offer enormous relief to the substantial socioeconomic burden of AD-related behavioral disturbances. This research was funded by National Institute of Aging R01 AG061100-01