Enriching the Lives of Older Veterans: The Gerofit Way

Sunday, November 6, 2022

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Location: 204 CC

CE: 1.5

Chair(s)

Katherine Hall, PhD, FGSA

Associate Director of Research
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)
Durham VA Health Care System
Durham, North Carolina, United States

Co-Chair(s)

Adam Gepner, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine
Medicine/Cardiovascular Medicine
William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital
Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

Rebekah Harris, PT, DPT, PhD

Clinician Scientist
GRECC
VA Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
KM

Kenneth Manning, M.S.

Senior Exercise Physiologist
GRECC
Durham VA Healthcare System
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Elizabeth Parker, PhD, RD

Assistant Professor
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Susan Patel, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist
Rehabilitation
Cincinnati VA Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
J Antonio Gutierrez, MD MHS

Staff Physician
Cardiology
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States

Gerofit is a clinical exercise program for Veterans ages 65 years and older with multi-morbidities and functional limitations that place them at elevated risk for institutionalization. It was declared a VHA “Best Practice” in 2017 and was selected for widespread dissemination and implementation, with over 30 Gerofit programs spanning the country. The original Gerofit program consists of supervised, facility-based exercise, offered 3 days per week in a group setting. Each exercise prescription incorporates aerobic training, progressive resistance training, and specialized exercises for balance and physical function. Everything changed in March 2020 when facilities began receiving orders to shut down face to face encounters and social distancing measures were put in place. Within six weeks, all of our sites had transitioned to group-based virtual classes, aptly called Gerofit to Home (GTH). This symposium includes 2 presentations that explore the effect of GTH on physical functioning and health-related quality of life outcomes in veteran participants during the pandemic: one focusing on resilience among GTH adopters vs. non-adopters in patients formerly participating in facility-based Gerofit; and the second focusing on patients enrolled directly in to GTH (no facility-based experience). The third presentation describes differences in physical function and health gains among Gerofit participants with and without peripheral artery disease (PAD). The fourth and fifth presentations describe augmented models of care to enrich the Gerofit experience for a) participants with supplemental nutrition programming and b) advanced physical therapy trainees through a Gerofit resident training model.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, participants will be able to describe virtual functional assessments protocols for strength, balance, and aerobic endurance domains.
After attending this session, participants will be able to describe the benefits of supervised exercise, alone and in combination with supplemental diet programming, on health and function in diverse populations of older veterans.
After attend the session, participants will be able to describe the programmatic and educational advantages of a geriatric PT resident training model that includes Gerofit supervision.

Presentations:

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Gerofit to Home (GTH) as a New Model of Care
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Rebekah Harris, PT, DPT, PhD – VA Boston
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Can Virtual Exercise Promote Physical Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Active Older Adults?
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kenneth Manning, M.S. – Durham VA Healthcare System
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Virtual Nutrition Education and Produce Delivery Increases Dietary Quality Among Older Veterans
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Elizabeth A. Parker, PhD, RD – University of Maryland School of Medicine
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Utilizing Physical Therapy Residents' as Health Promotion Experts to Improve QOL for Older Veterans
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Susan Patel, PT, DPT – Cincinnati VA Medical Center
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Functional Improvements Among Older Veterans with PAD Following 12 Months of Exercise Training
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: J Antonio T. Gutierrez, MD MHS – Durham VA Medical Center