Overview
This is a prospective longitudinal study that will evaluate the unmet needs of older adults (65 and older) who return home (either directly or after short-term rehab) after an ICU hospitalization, evaluate the association of these unmet needs with clinically relevant outcomes, and assess barriers and facilitators to addressing these unmet needs. The proposed research will inform the development and evaluation of a subsequent intervention to improve functional outcomes among older ICU survivors, in alignment with the NIH's mission to reduce disability.
Description
To identify unmet needs in multiple domains after return home from an ICU hospitalization, evaluate whether these unmet needs are associated with disability burden in the subsequent 6 months, and ascertain whether these associations are moderated by initial discharge destination (home or STR).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
PARTICIPANTS
- Age ≥ 65 years
- Survived an ICU admission of ≥2 days
CAREGIVERS
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Identified as caregiver of LANTERN participant who is an informal (unpaid) caregiver.
Exclusion Criteria:
PARTICIPANTS
- Advance directive of comfort measures only (CMO) or a transition to hospice
- Planned discharge to a location other than home or Short-Term Rehab
- Tracheostomy with ventilator dependence
- Severe acute or prior neurologic injury (such as anoxic brain injury or acute, massive stroke)
- Advanced dementia
- ICU admission for monitoring only (e.g., antibiotic desensitization)
- Primary language other than English.
- Homelessness
- Active drug or alcohol use disorder.
CAREGIVERS
- Primary language other than English
- Is a paid caregiver
- Unwilling to complete a qualitative interview