Background:
Taiwan is experiencing rapid population aging, with a growing prevalence of chronic diseases and functional impairments among older adults. Existing Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) programs focus primarily on screening but lack sufficient follow-up and intervention. In response, the HI-HOPE Project was developed to establish a community-based, multidisciplinary intervention model to enhance intrinsic capacity and promote healthy aging in rural elderly populations.
Survey and Screening:
The study will be conducted in 30 community centers across Yunlin County, targeting older adults aged ≥55 years. Participants will undergo biannual screenings over two years, assessing cognitive function, depression, mobility, vitality (nutrition), hearing, vision, osteoporosis, polypharmacy, urological health, and social participation \& welfare.
Intervention:
Participants will be randomly assigned to either:
HI-HOPE Integrated Care Group:
On-Site Community Interventions: Exercise training, mindfulness, social activities, oral and swallowing rehabilitation, hearing and vision training.
Telehealth \& Remote Education: Digital health monitoring, remote consultations, and health education.
Referral Services: Access to specialized medical care, transportation assistance, and follow-up support.
Control Group: Standard community care services without additional structured interventions.
Outcome Measures:
Primary outcomes include changes in intrinsic capacity of functional health metrics, including abnormalities of I-COPE components (mobility, cognitive status, depression, hearing, vision, vitality) . Secondary outcomes assess quality of life, activities of daily living, hospitalization, emergency visits, falls, and mortality rates over two years.
Significance:
This project integrates digital health technologies, interdisciplinary care, and community-based interventions to improve elderly health outcomes. The findings will guide the future scalability of integrated aging care models in Taiwan and beyond.
Age ≥55 years (includes older adults and pre-elderly individuals).
No severe functional disability (must be able to walk independently, use assistive devices, or operate a wheelchair independently).
No severe cognitive impairment (must be able to respond appropriately to verbal questions).
Irregular community participation (less than once per week in the target community).
Mild dementia or greater (assessed during screening). If identified, family members will be notified, and they retain the right to withdraw the participant unconditionally.
National Taiwan University Hospital
Lead sponsor
National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch
Collaborator
National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
Collaborator