Feasibility Study of Post-hospitalization Interventions to Improve Physical Function in Older Adults

Inclusion Criteria: * Admitted to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) ACE unit with an admitting diagnosis of congestive heart failure, respiratory infection, kidney/urinary tract infection, or metabolic disorder; or other condition that will allow a subject to participate in the study after patient review * Aged 65 years or older * Self-reported ability (with or without the aid of an assistive device) to walk across a small room two weeks prior to hospitalization * Lives within 30 miles of UTMB * Can stand without assistance at the time of pretesting * Presents no medical contraindication to wearing a loose fitting velcro strap for the accelerometer on one ankle * Score ≥26 on the 30-item Mini Mental State Examination or alert and oriented X3 by physician on H\&P * Is discharged "to home" at ACE unit discharge. Exclusion Criteria: * Nursing home resident or hospice patient * Uncontrolled blood pressure (systolic \>150, or diastolic \> 100) * History of stroke with motor disability * Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<30 mL/min/1.73m2 or evidence of kidney disease or failure * Liver disease ( aspartate aminotransferase (AST) /Alanine transaminase (ALT) 2 times above the normal limit, hyperbilirubinemia) * Recent (within 3 months) treatment with anabolic steroids * Any other condition or event considered exclusionary by the PI and faculty physician * Planned or elective hospitalization within 30 days of discharge Additional Exclusion Criteria for Subjects Randomized to the Testosterone Group * Breast or prostate cancer * Palpable prostate nodule or induration or prostate specific antigen (PSA) ≥ 4 ng/ml * PSA ≥ 3 ng/ml in men at high risk of prostate cancer, such as African Americans or men with first-degree relatives with prostate cancer * Hematocrit ≥ 50% * Decompensated heart failure as determined by a physician