IMPORTANCE Delirium is common among older emergency department (ED) patients, is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and frequently goes unrecognized. Anecdotal evidence has described atypical presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older adults; however, the frequency of and outcomes associated with delirium in older ED patients with COVID-19 infection have not been well described. OBJECTIVE To determine how frequently older adults with COVID-19 present to the ED with delirium and their associated hospital outcomes.

The Hospital Elder Life Program is effective in reducing incidence of delirium and rate of falls, with a trend toward decreasing length of stay and preventing institutionalization. With ongoing efforts in continuous program improvement, implementation, adaptations, and sustainability, HELP has emerged as a reference standard model for improving the quality and effectiveness of hospital care for older persons worldwide.

IMPORTANCE Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common condition for older adults, contributing to their functional decline.OBJECTIVE To investigate the effectiveness of the Tailored, Family-Involved Hospital Elder Life Program (t-HELP) for preventing POD and functional decline in older patients after a noncardiac surgical procedure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSA 2-arm, parallel-group, single-blind, cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from August 24, 2015, to February 28, 2016, on 6 surgical floors (gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, biliary, thoracic, and thyroid) of West China Hospital in Chengdu, China. Eligible participants (n = 281) admitted to each of the 6 surgical floors were randomized into a nursing unit providing t-HELP (intervention group) or a nursing unit providing usual care (control group). All randomized patients were included in the intention-to-treat analyses for the primary outcome of POD incidence. Statistical analysis was performed from April 3, 2016, to December 30, 2017. INTERVENTIONS In addition to receiving usual care, all participants in the intervention group received the t-HELP protocols, which addressed each patient's risk factor profile. Besides nursing professionals, family members and paid caregivers were involved in the delivery of many of the program interventions. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of POD, evaluated with the Confusion Assessment Method. Secondary outcomes included the pattern of functional and cognitive changes (activities of daily living [ADLs], instrumental activities of daily living [IADLs], Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire [SPMSQ]) from hospital admission to 30 days after discharge, and the length of hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS Of the 475 patients screened for eligibility, 281 (171 [60.9%] male, mean [SD] age 74.7 [5.2] years) were enrolled and randomized to receive t-HELP (n = 152) or usual care (n = 129). Postoperative delirium occurred in 4 participants (2.6%) in the intervention group and in 25 (19.4%) in the control group, with a relative risk of 0.14 (95% CI, 0.05-0.38). The number needed to treat to prevent 1 case of POD was 5.9 (95% CI, 4.2-11.1). Participants in the intervention group compared with the control group showed less decline in physical function (median [interquartile range] for ADLs: −5 [−10 to 0] vs −20 [−30 to −10]; P < .001; for IADLs: −2 [−2 to 0] vs −4 [−4 to −2]; P < .001) and cognitive function (for the SPMSQ level: 1 [0.8%] vs 8 [7.0%]; P = .009) at discharge, as well as shorter mean (SD) LOS (12.15 [3.78] days vs 16.41 [4.69] days; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEThe findings suggest that t-HELP, with family involvement at its core, is effective in reducing POD for older patients, maintaining or improving their physical and cognitive functions, and shortening the LOS. The results of this t-HELP trial may improve generalizability and increase the implementation of this program.

Older adults are at greatest risk of severe disease and death due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Globally, persons older than 65 years comprise 9% of the population, 1 yet account for 30% to 40% of cases and more than 80% of deaths. 2 Unfortunately, there is a long history of exclusion of older adults from clinical trials. In response, the National Institutes of Health instituted the Inclusion Across the Lifespan policy, requiring the inclusion of older adults in clinical trials. 3 Thus, we reviewed all COVID-19 treatment and vaccine trials on http:// www.clinicaltrials.gov to evaluate their risk for exclusion of older adults (≥65 years).

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To describe the Mobility Action Group (MACT), an innovative process to enhance implementation of hospital mobility programs and create a culture of mobility in acute care. DESIGN: Continuous quality improvement intervention with episodic data review. SETTING: Inpatient units including medical, surgical, and intensive care settings. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 42 hospitals of varying sizes across the United States. INTERVENTIONS: The MACT and Change Package were developed to provide a conceptual framework, road map, and step-by-step guide to enable mobility teams to implement mobility programs successfully and meet their mobilization goals. Participants were encouraged to select two to three change tactics to pursue during the first action cycle and select and implement additional tactics in subsequent cycles. Nine learning sessions were held via webinar from April 27, 2017, to October 5, 2017, during which faculty provided brief presentations, facilitation, and group discussion. MEASUREMENTS: Implementation of programs, walks per day, use of bed and chair alarms, and participant satisfaction. RESULTS: Successful implementation of mobility programs was achieved at most (76%) sites. The proportion of patients who received at least three walks per day increased from 9% to 19%. The proportion of patients who were placed on a bed or chair alarm decreased from 36% to 20%. On average, 69% of participants reported they were "strongly satisfied" with the learning sessions. Most participants found the Change Package (58%) and Toolkit (63%) "very helpful." Since the conclusion of the active initiative, the Change Package has been downloaded 1,200 times. Of those who downloaded it, 48% utilized it to establish a mobility program, and 58% used it at their organization at least once a month. CONCLUSION: The MACT and Change Package provides an innovative approach emphasizing systemwide change that can help catalyze a culture of mobility in hospitals across the nation, improving the quality of care for hospitalized older adults.