Opportunities to Participate in Research Study on Dementia and Technology

 

To: Administrators and Directors   From: Greg Schlosser, Branch Chief, Health Facility Quality & Education Branch   In collaboration with Indiana University (IU) and Regenstrief Institute, Eperture LLC is currently conducting several feasibility studies for assessing if using their new software technology (RememberStuff) is acceptable and beneficial to help those with memory loss to remain safe, personally challenged, and engaged with family and their community.   They are interested in doing multiple approaches within Colorado and the Denver area (there are no costs to participants):   Seeking a facility that services all levels of dementia to conduct an “ease-of-use during purpose-centered activities” study for 30 days across 10-15 participants and facility staff support. This study would be conducted in collaboration with a major university research center and lead by a qualified researcher as principal investigator. RememberStuff would be sent to all participants free of cost to use and provide research data as to the ability of RememberStuff to result in ease-of-use during purpose-centered activities in a valid and measurable manner. The study is funded by the National Science Foundation and is scheduled to begin on June 2, 2021. Interviewing facilities to partner with Eperture to apply for and complete a STTR grant (Small Business Technology Transfer) on resident mood measurement. They are interviewing primary research centers for a principal investigator who would be willing to conduct the study and provide the outcome data. Eperture has the study design, the process and technology ready and the grant writer in place. They now need to secure a facility willing to conduct the study with 15-25 participants and facility staff leadership. Eperture cannot submit a grant application without a formal agreement with a facility willing to conduct the study once awarded. We would like to submit the NIH-STTR study application by mid-July and hope to hear of the grant award by December 2021. Seeking interest in conducting a 30-day pilot study with 2 assisted living or independent living communities (with 5-10 participants) to gauge interest and enthusiasm in Rememberstuff technology. This requires a staff lead (typically the activity director and 1-2 staff). After RememberStuff units are installed, staff would train the resident, their family, and staff on how to use the device and hopefully gain feedback from participants and staff on what other functionality they would like to see. In 30 days, Eperture would collect and analyze the data and share their results. An open offer to all facilities servicing dementia, memory loss, brain injury or developmentally disabled populations, the chance to bring RememberStuff into your communities for a complimentary 30-day Test Drive! Eperture would set up one RememberStuff unit in your activities room/area, main dining room or other centralized place and allow residents and staff to touch and utilize the unit to gauge interest in potential integration of RememberStuff within your care facility.   If you want to discuss additional information or to accept Eperture’s invitation to participate in our research program, please contact: Mary Ellen Mullholand at 812-375-4647 or at email address: mary.mullholand@eperture.net