Actively Recruiting
Behavioral Activation for Independence in Older Veterans
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2026-02-27
58
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
163 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
As Veterans age, chronic health conditions increase their risk of functional limitations, or difficulty completing day-to-day activities independently. Older adults with functional limitations are more likely to be hospitalized or admitted to long-term care facilities. Maintaining independence at home and in the community is a high priority for many older Veterans. The goal of this study is to support the physical, cognitive, and social functioning of older Veterans by developing a program based on behavioral activation, an evidence-based brief psychosocial intervention that helps individuals increase their engagement in activities aligned with their values (i.e. what matters most to them). The study consists of 3 aims. Aim 1 involves adapting an existing behavioral activation program for older Veterans at risk for functional decline to be delivered by video telehealth and seeking feedback from Veterans and VA staff about the program materials. Aim 2 involves testing the program in a group of 10 Veterans to learn whether it is satisfactory to Veterans; the investigators will make improvements to the program based on the information gathered in this aim. Aim 3 is a randomized controlled trial that will test the behavioral activation program compared to usual care in older adulthood in 48 Veterans. This will help determine whether the program is possible to deliver as planned and acceptable to Veterans, and assess the potential effects of the program on functioning and related health outcomes.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Behavioral Activation for Independence in Older Veterans
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Receiving VA primary care
- Living in the community outside of nursing homes
- At risk for functional decline as shown by a Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 score of 3 or higher or a VA frailty index above 0.2
You will not qualify if you...
- Not speaking English
- Currently receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, or psychotherapy
- Advanced cognitive impairment with MIS-T score 3 or lower
- Hearing or vision problems that cannot be corrected and would prevent participation
- Unstable physical or mental health conditions such as ongoing new cardiac or respiratory symptoms evaluation
- Receiving hospice or palliative care
- Scheduled for surgery in the next 3 months
- Severe depression with PHQ-9 score of 14 or higher
- Active suicidal thoughts
- Likely substance use disorder
- Diagnosed schizophrenia or psychosis in the past 6 months
- No access to a video device for video visits (for Aim 3)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA
Bedford, Massachusetts, United States, 01730-1114
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Meaghan A Kennedy, MD MPH
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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