Telerehabilitation to help older Veterans manage multiple health problems
Official title: Multicomponent Telerehabilitation to Engage Veterans in Effective Self-Management of ComplexHealth Conditions
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11380361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This compares a home-based telerehabilitation program plus coaching to usual care for older Veterans with multiple medical conditions to help them stay active and manage daily function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX005012-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older Veterans enrolled in VA care with multiple chronic medical conditions, some functional decline, and the ability to participate in remote telehealth sessions from home.
✕Less likely to help
People without reliable internet/telehealth access, with severe cognitive impairment or unstable medical conditions requiring inpatient care, or those needing highly specialized in-person rehab are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to either a telerehabilitation program delivered to your home using video and connected devices or to usual care. The telerehabilitation includes progressive, higher-intensity exercise, behavior coaching to increase daily activity, and social support delivered remotely. The program is designed for medically complex older Veterans who may live in rural areas or have trouble getting to in-person rehab. The team will track function, activity levels, and quality of life over time to see which approach helps preserve independence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help Veterans maintain physical function, increase activity, and reduce barriers to rehab caused by travel or limited local services.
How similar studies have gone: Related telerehabilitation programs have helped people after stroke or cardiac events, but combining progressive high-intensity rehab with self-management and social support for medically complex older Veterans is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stevens-Lapsley, Jennifer E. — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Stevens-Lapsley, Jennifer E.
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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.