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

## TL;DR

This study explores whether a group telerehabilitation program called Fit for Life is feasible for older adults, especially Veterans, to help them achieve health goals through virtual sessions.

## Contribution

The study adapts an in-person group rehabilitation program to a telerehabilitation format and evaluates its feasibility for older Veterans.

## Key findings

- Eighteen Veterans participated in the Fit for Life telerehabilitation program.
- Adaptations were made in real-time to improve access and participation in the program.
- Future research will focus on clinical effectiveness and patient selection tools.

## 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.