Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment Doing Sit to Stands, Walking in Transitional Care Programs: A Feasibility Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, TORONTO · Nov 20, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how a nurse-led program, called the OASIS Walking Intervention, can help older adults with cognitive impairment, such as dementia, improve their strength and mobility after a hospital stay. The main goals are to see if the program is practical and if the participants are satisfied with it. Researchers also want to find out if this program can help improve the participants' muscle strength, ability to move around, overall functioning, and quality of life.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be 65 years or older, have some form of cognitive impairment, and have been hospitalized before joining a transitional care unit. They should be able to walk independently or with the help of one person and have a care partner who can participate in an interview about their experience. Participants will be interviewed to create a personalized care plan, and they will engage in activities that involve standing up from a seated position and walking as part of the program. This study is currently recruiting participants, and it aims to gather valuable information that could improve care for older adults with cognitive challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. aged 65 years and older;
• • 2. have cognitive impairment (dementia, delirium, cognitive impairment, or unspecified cognitive impairment) as documented in the medical record or Quick Dementia Rating Scale (QDRS) score of ≥2)
• • 3. admitted to a transitional care unit after a hospitalization
• • 4. can speak English
• • 5. has received clearance from the physiotherapist to participate in the study
• • 6. has received clearance from the nurse practitioner to participate in the study
• • 7. were community-dwelling (lived in a home or retirement home; not a nursing home) prior to hospitalization
• • 8. were able to walk independently or with the assistance of one person (with or without a gait aid) prior to hospital admission
• • 9. is currently able to ambulate either independently or with the assistance of one person (with or without a gait aid)
• • 10. has a care partner (family member, friend) who is willing participate in an interview about the patient for the study.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1) Palliative (having \<six months prognosis as documented in the medical chart)