Virtual Reality for Caregiver Assembly, Relief, Empowerment, and Support (VR-CARES) (NCT07430371) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Virtual Reality for Caregiver Assembly, Relief, Empowerment, and Support (VR-CARES)
United States30 participantsStarted 2026-03-11
Plain-language summary
The VR-CARES project is an innovative, collaborative effort that invites dementia care professionals into the design process of a virtual reality platform seeking to mitigate their work-related burden and social isolation by cultivating a virtual community of support. The co-created, caregiver-specific VR platform will serve as a safe, communal space where caregivers can remotely connect with their peers, share fun experiences together, access support, learn self-care and build resilience within a supportive virtual network to enhance their social and mental health and job satisfaction. Central to VR-CARES in the principle of user-led innovation, ensuring that the technology not only serves but is informed and successfully adopted by the very individuals it intends to benefit, an important standard for empathetic and inclusive technology in healthcare.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Employed by an in-home care agency and have at least one older adult client with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's Disease or Related Dementia
* At least 18 years of age
* Are proficient in English
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of seizures or severe motion sickness
* Are unable to see images in the virtual reality headset
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is for dementia caregivers and direct care workers rather than patients themselves — could participating in a virtual reality support program like VR-CARES actually benefit me or my loved one's care situation, and is it something worth exploring alongside our current treatment plan?
2Since this study is measuring usability of the VR system as well as changes in job satisfaction and empowerment for caregivers, what does that tell us about where the research is in its development — and should we expect it to be more about testing the technology than proving a health benefit?
3The trial focuses on in-home care workers and caregiver social support through virtual reality — given our specific caregiving setup at home, do you think we'd realistically be able to participate in and benefit from a VR-based program?
4Since this is listed as Phase NA and is still recruiting, how much is already known about whether this kind of virtual reality peer support is safe and effective for dementia caregivers, and are there more established support options we should consider first?
5If someone in our caregiving situation enrolled in this study, what would the time commitment and technology requirements look like, and could participating in any way interfere with the care being provided to our family member with dementia?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
System Usability Scale (SUS) Score
Timeframe: Assessed at mid-point (T2 - 8 weeks, post Rendever social engagement VR platform) and end of study (T3 - 16 weeks, post VR-CARES caregiver support platform). T2 vs. T3 comparison provides usability data for each intervention phase.
2
Mean Change in Caregiver Job Satisfaction
Timeframe: Assessed at enrollment (T1- baseline), mid-point (T2- 8 weeks, post Rendever social engagement VR platform), and end of study (T3- 16 weeks, post VR-CARES platform) - allows detection of the impact of each intervention phase on job satisfaction change.
3
Mean Change in Caregiver Empowerment
Timeframe: Assessed at enrollment (T1- baseline), mid-point (T2- 8 weeks), and end of study (T3- 16 weeks) - allows identification of whether empowerment gains occur during the core social engagement phase, the caregiver-specific program, or accumulate across both.