Older Adults' Outcomes and Perceptions After Participating in the HOP-UP-PT Program: A Prospective Descriptive Study

The purpose of this study was to describe self-reported outcomes and perceptions of community-dwelling older adults who participated in a 6-month prevention-focused home care physical therapy program entitled Home-based Older Persons Upstreaming Prevention Physical Therapy (HOP-UP-PT). A 17-question telephone survey was offered 1 to 3 months after program completion to HOP-UP-PT participants who completed a minimum of three visits. Self-reported fall outcomes, healthcare utilization outcomes, perceptions of interventions, and financial perceptions were descriptively analyzed. There were 18 survey respondents (9 male, 9 female, mean age = 79 years). No falls were reported by 15 respondents and 3 reported 1 to 2 falls without injury. Seventeen participants reported no hospitalizations, one reported only overnight emergency room observation, and no participants reported requiring physical therapy. Participants reported benefits of: activity trackers (18/18), fall-prevention exercises (17/18), and electronic blood pressure monitor use (13/18). Despite reported benefits, participants indicated an inability/unwillingness to privately pay for the program with fixed incomes identified as the rationale for this response. Future considerations for third-party reimbursement warrants examination given older adults may have limitations in disposable income. The findings of this study suggest efficacy of HOP-UP-PT may translate to participant satisfaction and positive health and behavior changes after participation.