Telehealth Behavioral Activation Program to Support Independence in Older Veterans at Risk for Functional Decline

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to develop and test a telehealth-delivered behavioral activation program called ACTIVaTE to support physical, cognitive, and social functioning in older Veterans at risk of losing their independence. The study focuses on community-dwelling older Veterans receiving VA primary care who face the risk of functional decline. The program is based on an evidence-based brief psychosocial intervention that helps individuals increase engagement in meaningful activities aligned with their values. The study includes three main parts first, adapting an existing behavioral activation model for Veterans and telehealth use second, testing the program with 10 Veterans to gather feedback and improve it and third, conducting a randomized controlled trial comparing ACTIVaTE to usual care with 48 Veterans. The ACTIVaTE intervention involves six sessions delivered by a psychology trainee via video telehealth, covering education, activity monitoring, values exploration, and planning to maintain functional independence. Participants in usual care will receive educational materials on maintaining activity and resources. Participants will be assessed at the start, and at 6 to 12 weeks, with measures including physical, cognitive, and social functioning tools like the Ambulatory Measure for Post-Acute Care and PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Roles. Researchers will monitor enrollment, retention, adherence, satisfaction, and conduct interviews to explore acceptability and potential benefits. The study aims to establish if the program is feasible and acceptable for older Veterans and gather preliminary data on its impact on daily functioning and well-being.

Behavioral Activation for Independence in Older Veterans