COVID-19 & Frailty Rehabilitation Task Force
The mission of the COVID-19 & Frailty Rehabilitation Task Force is to optimize frailty recognition, measurement and management across the continuum of rehabilitation settings by building collaborations between interdisciplinary researchers, clinicians, policy makers, caregivers and frail older adults groups. Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19 and the urgent need of evidence-based decisions to inform rehabilitation approaches for frail individuals, we will focus on the impact of frailty on individuals affected by COVID-19 virus and how to identify and implement the best rehabilitation approach to these individuals.
PURPOSE
In the current global pandemic, it appears that frail older adults and long-term care residents are at highest risk of mortality and hospital and ICU admissions. Little is known about the rehabilitation needs of patients affected by COVID-19. Before rehabilitation professionals will be able to deliver the best services for these patients, we will need to understand:
- What is the virus’ impact on the person’s health, function, and quality of life?
- How does the patients’ frailty and severity status impact the recommended treatment for these individuals?
- How can rehabilitation be used to improve health and reduce frailty in people at risk for COVID-19 and similar illness?
- What happens after these patients are discharged?
- What approaches need to be taken to enhance their participation in center-based rehab or health programs?
This task force would explore the option of extending rehabilitation to the home or community for frail and at high risk individuals. Relevant evidence-based literature, including home and centre-based rehabilitation and related approaches, will be reviewed, and the task force will recommend emergent and innovative, revenue-neutral, approaches to best care for the frail and underserved patients impacted by COVID-19.
JOIN THE TASK FORCE
Thank you for being a part of the ARGR NG COVID-19 & Frailty Rehabilitation Task Force! We love that the ACRM attracts the most passionate interdisciplinary mix of rehabilitation pros from around the world. What an honor to collaborate with such driven individuals. We hope to meet with you at our upcoming networking group meeting to discuss current projects and opportunities for contribution and collaboration.
ACRM ARGR NG COVID-19 & Frailty Rehabilitation Task Force Meeting
Join us this month to discuss the 2023ACRM Annual Conference, Task Force updates, and new projects. We welcome your participation.
Save the date! This group meets the last Friday of each month
DATE: Last Friday of each month
TIME: 1:00 PM Eastern
CHAIR
Ahmed Negm MD, MSc, PhD
CO-CHAIR
Post-doctoral Fellow
University of Alberta
Alberta, Canada
Saurabh P. Mehta, PT, PhD, GCS
CO-CHAIR
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program
East Tennessee State University
JOIN US!
If you are interested in joining the COVID & Frailty Rehabilitation Task Force, please contact the task force chair, Dr. Ahmend Negm, or the ARGRNG chair, Dr. Patricia Heyn.
GOALS
- Address the current COVID-19 impact on frail patients with evidence and practical clinical knowledge
- Educate the field for proper recommendations related to the rehabilitation of frail older adults after a Pandemic
The task force will disseminate its work through white papers, ARCHIVES of PM&R Information & Education Pages (IEPs) and evidence-based reports as well as by public dissemination approaches.
