iCare4Me Transitions: Supporting Caregivers of Hospitalized Older Adults

This study, called iCare4Me Transitions, is looking at ways to help caregivers of older adults (age 65 or older) who are moving from the hospital back home. It compares two approaches: a virtual health coach (Virtual Health Coach for You) that offers 10 sessions over six months to improve your self-care and coping, and digital health information websites (Digital Health Information). The goal is to see which method is better at improving your self-care and reducing stress. You might be able to join if you are an informal caregiver providing at least 8 hours of care per week, report poor self-care, and are comfortable using technology like a computer or smartphone. The study will measure changes in your self-care at the beginning, and then at 3 and 6 months after you join.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial comparing a virtual health coaching intervention to web-based information alone. It plans to enroll 314 participants.
What's involved
Participants will receive either 10 virtual health coaching sessions over 6 months or access to digital health information websites. Self-care will be measured at enrollment, 3 months, and 6 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 6 months after enrollment, with measurements taken at 3 and 6 months.

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NCT06167746

iCare4Me Transitions

Recruiting
PHASE3Ages 18+Interventional
University of Pennsylvania
~314 participants
Updated 2026-03-12 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Digital Health Information (DHI)Virtual Health Coach for You

At a glance

Recruiting sites
3 of 3 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Self-Care Inventory
Measured over Collected at: enrollment, 3- and 6-months after enrollment
+1 more outcome measured
Caregiver Stress
3 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania3
  • Karen Hirschman, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pennsylvia

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Informal caregiver providing care at least 8 hours/week to the hospitalized older adult (age 65 or older)
Reporting poor self-care on screening (Health Self-Care Neglect scale score greater than or equal to 2)
Willing to use technology (e.g., computer, smartphone, iPad/tablet)
Able to complete the protocol, e.g., adequate vision and hearing
English speaking

Exclusion

Cognitive deficits in orientation and/or recall (Six Item Screener score less than 3)
Participation in another similar support or care transition trial
Untreated major psychiatric illness (Use of anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medicines is acceptable)
  • Self-Care InventoryCollected at: enrollment, 3- and 6-months after enrollment

    The Self-Care Inventory (SCI) measures self-care maintenance, monitoring, management, and self-efficacy. Each subscale is standardized on a 0-100 point scale. Higher scores indicate better self-care.

  • Health Self-Care NeglectCollected at: enrollment, 3- and 6-months after enrollment

    This a binary that scale captures the level of self-care neglect, with higher scores indicating greater neglect.