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

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of and satisfaction of participants with a novel intervention - the OASIS Walking Intervention (that is, the Older Adults with cognitive impairment performing Sit to Stands and Walking Intervention) in a facility-based TCPs.

The second aim is to determine the efficacy of the OASIS Walking intervention on muscle strength, mobility, functional status, quality of life, and discharge destination.

A feasibility study will be undertaken for this three-component intervention project. In terms of study design, a quasi-experimental one group time series design will be used.

A sample size of 26 patient participants and their substitute decision makers will participate in the study. Participants will be older adults ≥65 years admitted to a facility-based transitional care unit in Ontario.

The Older Adults with cognitive impairment performing the Sit to Stands and Walking Intervention is a nurse-led intervention that consists of three components: 1) Patient-Centered Communication Care Plan (informed by interviews with the participant and their care partner); 2) Sit to Stand Activity; and 3) Walking program. This intervention is grounded using a patient centered approach.

For patients in the Long-Term Care Stream or Rehab Stream Arm, the dose of the intervention is: up to 45 minutes per session, five sessions per week, for six weeks. Approximately up to 30 minutes will be spent walking with the participant and up to 15 minutes will be spent performing the sit-to-stand activity.

For patients in the Reactivation Stream Intervention Arm, the dose of the intervention is: up to 45 minutes per session, five sessions per week, for three weeks. Approximately up to 30 minutes will be spent walking with the participant and up to 15 minutes will be spent performing the sit-to-stand activity.

Inclusion criteria

• aged 65 years and older;
• 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)
• admitted to a transitional care unit after a hospitalization
• can speak English
• has received clearance from the physiotherapist to participate in the study
• has received clearance from the nurse practitioner to participate in the study
• were community-dwelling (lived in a home or retirement home; not a nursing home) prior to hospitalization
• were able to walk independently or with the assistance of one person (with or without a gait aid) prior to hospital admission
• is currently able to ambulate either independently or with the assistance of one person (with or without a gait aid)
• has a care partner (family member, friend) who is willing participate in an interview about the patient for the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Palliative (having <six months prognosis as documented in the medical chart)