WeCareToFeedDysphagia to Reduce Care-partner Burden Full-scale RCT

Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Caregiver Burden, Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Oropharyngeal Dysphagia, Older Adults

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a newly-created website tool, called WeCareToFeedDysphagia, helps to reduce feelings of burden in care partners of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) who were diagnosed with trouble swallowing (oropharyngeal dysphagia). The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How effective is the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool in reducing feelings of burden in care partners? * Does the WeCareToFeed Dysphagia tool help improve patient outcomes? * Does care partner age, gender, and patient dysphagia severity impact the strength of the effect of the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool? * Is the strength of the effect of the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool impacted by care partner's beliefs in being able to manage behavior and stress (self-efficacy)? Researchers will compare a group of care partners who have access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia tool (intervention) to a group of care partners who do not have access to the tool. Both groups will receive contact information for help from a speech language pathologist expert (enhanced usual care). Participants will: * be given access to the web tool and receive 3 text message reminders over 3 weeks to use the tool (intervention group only). * be asked to complete a remote, web-based survey three times: when enrolled in the study, at 1 month following patient leaving the hospital, and at 3 months following patient leaving the hospital.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07250113

Run by

Northwell Health

People needed

802

Starts

2026-02-17

Expected to finish

2028-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-09

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Self-identifies as the primary care partner of an older adult patient (patient age ≥ 65 years) with AD/ADRD and oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) admitted to the Northwell medicine service
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Designated as the legally authorized representative (LAR) or health care proxy (HCP), or designated by the LAR or HCP to participate
• Proficient in English
• Has access to a device (e.g. smartphone, iPad, computer) capable of accessing a web browser

You may not qualify if…

• Care partner of patient with a percutaneous feeding tube (i.e. PEG, PEJ used exclusively)
• Care partner of patient who will not be discharged to the home or community setting (e.g., home, assisted living, independent living)
• Care partner will not be involved with OD management (e.g. buying or making food, feeding, supervising) after hospital discharge

Where it is running

• The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research — Manhasset, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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