NCT04520698: UPLIFT-AD

Utilizing Palliative Leaders In Facilities to Transform Care for Alzheimer's Disease

Completed NA Last updated 23 October 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing UPLIFT-AD in Alzheimer Disease in 1,322 participants. Completed in 30 September 2025.

Timeline

8 September 2021

Primary endpoint
30 September 2025

30 September 2025

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Indiana University
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	non randomized
Design	crossover
Masking	none
Primary purpose	supportive care
Enrollment	1,322
Start date	8 September 2021
Primary completion	30 September 2025
Estimated completion	30 September 2025
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• UPLIFT-AD

Conditions studied

• Alzheimer Disease — all drugs for Alzheimer Disease →

Sponsor

Indiana University

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Alzheimer Disease. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a comprehensive model for integrating both primary and specialty Palliative Care for older adults with dementia into nursing facilities. Palliative Care is a supportive care approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing serious or life-threatening illnesses, through the prevention and relief of suffering through the treatment of pain and other problems, using physical, psychosocial and spiritual approaches. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people who are living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and from the stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both patient and family.

The UPLIFT-AD model will include providing education on primary Palliative Care for residents with dementia to nursing facility staff, training nursing facility staff in providing primary Palliative Care, and providing access to specialty Palliative Care consultations for residents. To help understand the impact of these interventions, this study will also collect information about resident health, the care they receive, and perceptions of their quality of life according to both family members and nursing facility staff.

Publications & conference data

5 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Using Palliative Leaders in Facilities to Transform Care for People with Alzheimer's Disease (UPLIFT-AD): protocol of a palliative care clinical trial in nursing homes.
   Unroe KT, Ersek M, Tu W, Floyd A, et al · · 2023 · cited 5× · PMID 37496001 · DOI 10.1186/s12904-023-01226-0
2. A Psychometric Evaluation of the Staff-Reported EOLD-CAD Measure Among Nursing Home Residents With Cognitive Impairment.
   Cagle JG, Stump TE, Tu W, Ersek M, et al · · 2025 · cited 2× · PMID 39743326 · DOI 10.1002/gps.70037
3. Family perceptions of palliative care consultations for nursing home residents.
   Boakye A, Cagle J, Tucker G, Ersek M, et al · · 2026 · PMID 41987115 · DOI 10.1186/s12904-026-02093-1
4. Discordance in Ratings of Symptoms Experienced by Nursing Home Residents With Cognitive Impairment.
   Unroe KT, Ersek M, Stump TE, Floyd A, et al · · 2026 · PMID 41319818 · DOI 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.11.022
5. Using Palliative Leaders in Facilities to Transform Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease (UPLIFT-AD): Protocol of a palliative care clinical trial in nursing homes
   Unroe KT, Ersek M, Tu W, Floyd A, et al · · 2023 · DOI 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2967585/v1