# Feasibility of Remote Home Support Coaches to Decrease the Physical and Psychological Impact of Social Distancing on Older Adults

> **NIH NIH P30** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $325,895

## Abstract

Background: Millions of older Americans have to practice social distancing due to the COVID-19
pandemic. It is anticipated that this will need to continue for many older people until an effective
vaccine is available. Due to these restrictions, most older people cannot take part in their regular
physical and social activities. Physical deconditioning occurs rapidly when older people reduce their
activity level. This increases the risk of people becoming so weak that it limits their ability to do basic
mobility activities like climbing stairs and walking outdoors. Muscle weakness and balance impairments
are also major risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries, including fractures. Because people have lost
their usual sources of social connection, there is likely to be an increased incidence of loneliness (i.e. the
feeling of being isolated), social isolation (i.e. the lack of social connection and support) and depression
among older people. Loneliness and social isolation were already serious problems for older people
before this pandemic. Many organizations have put in place telephone calls by volunteers or paid
employees to reduce loneliness and social isolation by engaging in friendly companionship
conversations. However, there is evidence that tele-interventions by lay people that use brief behavioral
activation coaching are significantly more effective in changing important health outcomes than
conversational calls. Methods: This study will explore the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary
evidence of efficacy of telephone-based Behavioral Activation Coaching telephone calls to reduce
loneliness and prevent deconditioning in n=50 older people recruited from primary care practices in
Boston or senior living/assistive living centers near Baltimore. The intervention will be delivered entirely
remotely in 10 sessions over 4 months. Outcomes include measures of feasibility, safety and
acceptability. Efficacy will be explored by measuring changes in daily steps walked using a wearable
sensor, loneliness, function, disability, social isolation, depression, anxiety, and health care utilization.
Patient reported outcomes will be measured by trained telephone assessors at baseline - and 4-months
post enrollment. Implications: If the Behavioral Activation Coaching telephone calls are found to be
effective this model could be quickly disseminated to volunteer organizations, health systems or
businesses that wish to support people who are social isolating due to COVID-19. The materials and
resources to implement the Behavioral Activation Coaching will be made freely available online.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10174275
- **Project number:** 3P30AG031679-10S2
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** SHALENDER BHASIN
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $325,895
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2008-09-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10174275

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10174275, Feasibility of Remote Home Support Coaches to Decrease the Physical and Psychological Impact of Social Distancing on Older Adults (3P30AG031679-10S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10174275. Licensed CC0.

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