ED PLWD/Care Partner Text Messaging

Development and Pilot Testing of a Novel Text Messaging Intervention to Improve Emergency Department Care Transitions Among Care Partners of Persons Living With Cognitive Impairment

The purpose of this research study is to develop and test a text-messaging intervention for emergency department (ED) discharge care transitions experienced by caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Care partners (family members or close contacts) of persons living with cognitive impairment (PLWCI) who were evaluated and discharged from the emergency department (ED)
• Age 18 years or older
• Able to read and understand English or Spanish
• Owns a mobile phone capable of receiving SMS text messages
• Provides informed consent to participate in the study
• Care recipient (PLWCI) resides in a community setting (i.e., not in a long-term care facility)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Care partner of a patient who is admitted to the hospital from the ED or transferred to a facility (e.g., skilled nursing facility)
• Care partner who is already enrolled in another caregiving support trial or intervention study
• Care partner who does not have regular access to a mobile phone with SMS capabilities
• Care partner who is unable or unwilling to participate in follow-up over 30 days
• Care partner of a patient enrolled in hospice or receiving end-of-life care