MEMORI Corps: Activity-based Companion Care for Dementia

Other illness

• At end-stage disease (e.g. bed-bound and non-communicative, or hospice),
• Currently enrolled in a dementia related clinical trial, or
• Report having an existing cognitive disorder diagnosis by a health provider (e.g., Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's disease or other type of dementia).

Other

• PWD are excluded if:
• Deemed to be in a crisis/unsafe situation at baseline,
• Planned transition from home in less than 6 months,
• Deemed to have severe behavioral symptoms so severe that participation in this study is unsafe (e.g., are placing self or others at harm).
  • CGs are excluded if:
• Do not plan to be co-residing with the PWD in the next 6 months, or
• Currently involved in a behavioral/educational clinical trial.
  • Volunteers are excluded:
• Planning on moving from the area in the next 12 months,
• Unable to provide informed consent, and

• Persons with dementia and informal caregiver (PWD/CG) must both meet eligibility criteria. These criteria are designed to reduce PWD/CG attrition and ensure safety of PWD, CG, and volunteers.
• PWD are eligible if:
• English speaking;
• Have an established physician clinical diagnosis of dementia (any stage) and confirmed with Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the. Elderly (IQCODE) cut off \>=52 ,
• Are able to participate in at least 4 basic Activities of Daily Living (out of 11),
• Have not received formal (i.e., in-home companion care, or adult day center) activity-focused care services in the past 4 weeks,
• Living at home in all counties in Maryland and Baltimore City,
• Have a co-residing informal caregiver willing to participate as study partner, and 30 years old or older.
  • CG are eligible if:
• English speaking,
• 21 years of age or older (male or female),
• Deemed to be a reliable informal caregiver (not paid for caregiving of PWD) who knows the PWD well,
• Co-residing with the PWD, and
• Relied on by the PWD for assistance in activities of daily living (instrumental or basic).
  • Volunteers (i.e. "Companion Guides") are eligible if:
• English-speaking,
• 55 years or older, (3) High School diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) (minimum) (2) ability pass a basic adult literacy screen
• Ability to pass a background check, physical and mental health screening,
• A Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)-Blind score of 18 or above,
• Ability to commit to 12 months of service (5 hours per week, excluding travel time and continuing education and support), and
• Are reliable during intake and on-boarding process and able to successfully complete training.