Feasibility of Group Telerehabilitation for Older Adults: A Quality Improvement Project

Authors

  • Emily M. Hudson Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN USA
  • Stephanie P. Bazal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Michelle R. Rauzi Denver/Seattle Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value Driven Care, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA; Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
  • Hillari S. N. Olson Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Melissa J. Ludescher Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Christine Interrante Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Molly Lahn Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Estee Berg Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Howard A. Fink Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA;
  • Jennifer P. Wisdom Wisdom Consulting, New York, New York, NY, USA
  • Allison M. Gustavson Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN USA; Rehabilitation & Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement & Reintegration, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6401-1230

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2024.6651

Keywords:

Fit for Life, Group rehabilitation, Physical therapy, Telerehabilitation, Veterans

Abstract

A growing body of evidence suggests group rehabilitation may empower patients to achieve functional goals by leveraging social connectivity. From previous work, we adapted an in-person group for older Veterans to a telerehabilitation group called Fit for Life. The current quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing Fit for Life. Eligible Veterans lived in the community and were at risk for falls or hospitalization per functional performance measures. We used convergent parallel mixed methods approach in the evaluation. Eighteen Veterans ≥55 years old (all male, mean 77 years, 39% rural) received a referral to Fit for Life, two did not participate. We analyzed and integrated adaptations posed by clinicians and Veterans in real-time to enhance access to and participation in Fit for Life. Future work will explore clinical effectiveness, tools to identify patients most likely to benefit, and care delivery structures that integrate telerehabilitation groups for older Veterans.

  

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Published

2025-01-15

How to Cite

Hudson, E. M., Bazal, S. P., Rauzi, M. R., Olson, H. S. N., Ludescher, M. J., Interrante, C., … Gustavson, A. M. (2025). Feasibility of Group Telerehabilitation for Older Adults: A Quality Improvement Project. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2024.6651

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Clinical Reports

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Copyright (c) 2025 Emily M. Hudson, Stephanie P. Bazal, Michelle R. Rauzi, Hillari S. N. Olson, Melissa J. Ludescher, Christine Interrante, Molly Lahn, Estee Berg, Howard A. Fink, Jennifer P. Wisdom, Allison M. Gustavson

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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