Improving comfort care for older adults during ventilator withdrawal in ICUs
Official title: Intensive Palliative Care: Improving the Process of Palliative Ventilator Withdrawal Among Critically Ill Older Adults
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-10810798 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make the process of stopping ventilator support easier and more compassionate for older patients in intensive care, by listening to their experiences and those of their healthcare providers, so that everyone can feel more comfortable and cared for during this difficult time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $194,400 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AG066929-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10810798 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are critically ill patients aged 60 and older who are mechanically ventilated in an ICU setting.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not critically ill or those who are younger than 60 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the process of palliative ventilator withdrawal (PVW) for critically ill older adults in intensive care units (ICUs). It aims to understand the experiences of patients and the perspectives of healthcare providers by following 150 mechanically ventilated patients over 60 years old in two Boston hospitals. The study will also develop a Comfort Measures Only Time out (CMOT) intervention to ensure that patients receive appropriate care and symptom relief during this challenging transition. By addressing the unique needs of older patients, the research seeks to reduce suffering and improve the quality of end-of-life care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved comfort and reduced distress for older patients undergoing ventilator withdrawal.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has highlighted the need for improved palliative care practices in ICUs, but this specific focus on PVW in older adults is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fehnel, Corey R — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Fehnel, Corey R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving care for critically ill older adults through palliative care integration
This study is looking at whether adding special palliative care to regular critical care can help older adults who are very sick feel better and make better decisions about their treatment.
-
Personalized oxygen therapy for critically ill adults
A study tests whether customizing oxygen levels for adults on invasive ventilation can lower death rates and complications.
-
Imaging and EHR data combine to predict ICU outcomes with clinician and patient input
Aims to build a computer model that uses chest X-ray images, doctor notes, and electronic health record data to predict outcomes for ICU patients, with input from clinicians, patients’ families, and ethics experts.
-
Teleconsultation to Improve Safety for Critically Ill Infants and Children Before hospital arrival
A national study tests whether remote pediatric expert advice during ambulance transport reduces harm to critically ill babies and kids.
-
Patient-ventilator Asynchrony in Critically Ill Children
This grant explores how often and why mechanically ventilated children have mismatches between their own breathing efforts and the ventilator, with the goal of making ventilation safer and more comfortable for kids.
-
Patient-ventilator asynchrony in critically ill children
A study to understand when ventilators don’t perfectly match a child’s breathing needs and how this affects recovery.
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.