Exercise and Protein Program May Aid Recovery in Frail Seniors After Hospitalization
Pilot study finds 80% of older adults in skilled nursing facilities were discharged back to the community after participation in targeted recovery program
A pilot study suggests that a simple program combining exercise and protein supplementation may help older adults with frailty recover more successfully after hospitalization, with 80% of participants discharged from skilled nursing facilities back to the community rather than long-term care or the hospital.
The findings offer encouraging news for older adults and families navigating the difficult period after a serious illness or injury. Many seniors lose strength, mobility, and independence during hospitalization, and recovery in skilled nursing facilities can determine whether they are able to return home. Researchers say the study suggests frail older adults may benefit from targeted interventions designed to rebuild muscle strength and physical function during this critical recovery window.
The study, “Feasibility of a Multicomponent Frailty Intervention During Post-Acute Rehabilitation in Skilled Nursing Facilities,” which was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, tested a multicomponent frailty intervention designed to address several drivers of physical decline at once. Rather than relying on standard rehabilitation alone, researchers combined individualized exercise sessions with targeted protein supplementation timed to support muscle recovery and rebuilding. Participants were offered the program at least five times a week during their stay in skilled nursing facilities.
“The multicomponent design is particularly important because frailty is complex, and too often, frailty is treated as an inevitable part of aging and recovery after illness,” said Sandra Shi, MD, MPH, assistant scientist II, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife.
“Exercise stimulates muscle function, while protein provides the building blocks needed for recovery and repair. Pairing the two interventions may create a more effective strategy for improving resilience during the narrow but critical recovery period after hospitalization. This pilot study shows that additional exercises are not only safe and well-tolerated in frail older adults, but even very vulnerable older adults may be able to regain strength and function when exercise and nutrition are intentionally combined during rehabilitation. We owe it to our patients to help them to do more in order to successfully regain strength.”
Researchers caution that the pilot study was designed to evaluate feasibility and safety rather than to prove that the intervention directly caused better outcomes. Still, they say the findings support larger studies to determine whether structured frailty programs can help more older adults maintain independence and avoid long-term disability after hospitalization. Future studies will need to examine whether the approach can reduce rehospitalizations, shorten recovery time, and improve long-term independence and quality of life for older adults recovering in skilled nursing facilities.
In addition to Shi, researchers for this study were Kylee MacLean, project director II, Marcus Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife; Alex Wolfe, study coordinator, Marcus Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife; Yuchen Liu, SM, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Innokentiy Bakaev, MD, EMBA, associate chief medical officer and medical director, Rehabilitative Services Units, Hebrew SeniorLife; Thomas Travison PhD, senior scientist, Marcus Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife; and Dae Hyun Kim, MD, MPH, ScD, associate director and senior scientist, Marcus Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife.
About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national leader working to create a world where aging is defined by possibility, not limitation. We care for more than 4,500 older adults each day across seven campuses throughout Greater Boston, and offer support for families in the aging journey. Our services include in-home care, outpatient therapies, an outpatient memory clinic, short- and long-term inpatient care, hospice, independent and assisted living, and affordable housing with services. We conduct influential research on aging at our Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a grant portfolio of $87 million, and train future health care workers at the Lunder CareForce Institute. Hebrew SeniorLife is a Harvard Medical School affiliate. Follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
Scientists at the Marcus Institute seek to transform the human experience of aging by conducting research that will ensure a life of health, dignity, and productivity into advanced age. The Marcus Institute carries out rigorous studies that discover the mechanisms of age-related disease and disability; lead to the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease; advance the standard of care for older people; and inform public decision-making.
