Helping Older Hospital Patients Move More
Randomized Trial of Assisted Ambulation to Improve Health Outcomes for Older Medical Inpatients
This project aims to help older adults in the hospital stay active and recover better by providing dedicated support for walking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129739 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When older adults stay in the hospital, it's common to lose some ability to move around, which can make it harder to go home. Nurses often try to help patients walk, but they have many other important duties, especially with current staffing shortages. This project is looking into whether having special mobility helpers, whose main job is to assist patients with walking, can make a big difference. We want to see if this dedicated support can help patients avoid complications and return home sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults, aged 65 years and older, who are admitted to a medical inpatient unit.
Not a fit: Patients who are not hospitalized or are under 65 years of age would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help older hospitalized patients maintain their mobility, reduce complications like falls and bed sores, and allow them to return home more quickly.
How similar studies have performed: While smaller studies have shown that mobility technicians can increase patient steps, this large-scale project aims to provide definitive proof of their impact on broader health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rothberg, Michael B — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Rothberg, Michael B
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.