GERAS Frailty Rehabilitation at Home During COVID-19

During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, many healthcare professionals are concerned that vulnerable seniors who are housebound and isolated will become deconditioned resulting in functional losses in mental status, continence and ability to complete activities of daily living. Total inactivity in seniors can result in a 10-20% decrease in muscle strength per week (1 -3% per day). Loss of muscle strength may quickly convert a vulnerable older adult who was ambulatory into a bedridden state. This will affect the health of seniors and increase demand on healthcare systems. An innovative model to deliver frailty rehabilitation services remotely is urgently needed to: 1) increase access to specialized services 2) provide added supports for seniors discharged from the hospital who are in need of rehabilitation and 3) build resilience in seniors to prevent re-hospitalization or institutionalization. Therefore, to address the immediate impact of COVID-19 policies (i.e., physical distancing and reduced access to care), the GERAS Frailty Rehabilitation model will be adapted to be delivered remotely in the homes of vulnerable seniors. This proof-of-concept, randomized control trial aims to understand how to best build resilience among vulnerable seniors through at-home rehabilitation services using socialization, exercise, nutrition, and medication support.

The short-term immediate goals for this RCT are to help vulnerable seniors who are isolated because of physical distancing measures to build strength and resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The major deliverables are 1) the adaptation of an in-person program to virtual delivery 2) the piloting of a care pathway with inter-disciplinary professionals that can be expanded to reach a larger number of individuals.

The long-term goal of the study is the seamless implementation of a new model for multimodal Frailty Rehabilitation that closes the care gap in rehabilitation for frail seniors in the immediate and foreseeable future.

Inclusion criteria

• Community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years of age;
• Score between 4-6 (inclusive) on the clinical frailty scale;
• Able to ambulate independently with or without a walking aid; OR with caregiver supervision at home;
• Obtain clearance for exercise: For hospital referrals - average resting heart rate between 50-100 bpm and average blood pressure less than or equal to 160/90mmHg (as per Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology guidelines for exercise clearance); OR Self- referrals: Obtain exercise clearance from their family physician prior to the first intervention session.

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to speak or understand English and has no caregiver for translation;
• Significant cognitive impairment where they may have difficulty following two-step commands;
• Receiving palliative/end of life care;
• Unstable angina or unstable heart failure;
• Travel plans that would result in missing greater than 20% of the trial's 12-week duration;
• Currently attending a group exercise program.