Improving Cognition of Older Adults in Community Housing

Overview

The I-COACH study will focus on seniors with mental health conditions who are living in senior community housing. This initiative proposes to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week integrated program of cognitive remediation (CR) in combination with social and physical activity using an open-label design. The program will be provided over three iterative groups of six participants each, with one Personal Support Worker (PSW). The program will be co-designed at a granular level in an iterative process, drawing upon feedback provided by each participant group, PSW, and community housing staff to improve the user experience. We will build the capacity for community personal support workers (PSWs) to deliver this program independently and with fidelity to the intervention model. Our ultimate goal is to help seniors continue to live as long as possible in their homes within the community.

This project entails the development and implementation of a12-week integrated program of cognitive remediation (CR) in combination with social and physical activity of 18 older adults living in senior housing. The study will be recruiting individuals, age 50 or older, who meet criteria for any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-V diagnosis and are living in community housing. Participants will be recruited from five senior housing units. Prior to enrollment, participants will undergo a baseline assessment consistent of neuropsychological assessment (NP). Once enrolled, each participant will participate in the 12 - weeks program. The program will be offered 4 days per week and will consist of 2 days of 1-hour CR training, one day of 30 min physical activity and one day of 1-hour social activity. The intervention will be delivered by the research team and the senior community housing PSWs. The PSWs involved in the study are part of the participant's circle of care and will be trained and operating under supervision in collaboration with the research team. Following the completion of the 12-week program, group participants and staff will be invited to complete a satisfaction survey and the System Usability Scale (SUS) to gauge their feedback to the program and also to complete a semi-structured interview involving a qualitative assessment. Primary Aim: To design a feasible and tolerable active program for seniors living in the community setting. Secondary Aim: To modify CR using an iterative process that meets the capacity of senior community housing PSWs to deliver CR independently.