Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) awarded The Regents of the University of Colorado-Denver a Project Grant totaling $396,656 under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) for the period April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The award funds the development and evaluation of the Safe Transfers and Mobility Program (STAMP), a scalable, patient-centered supplemental mobility intervention designed to improve functional recovery in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). STAMP complements formal rehabilitation services by engaging post-acute care patients in supplemental walking and functional transfer activities (such as bed mobility, sit-to-stand transfers, and wheelchair transfers) throughout the day, addressing sedentary behavior and physical deconditioning that often impede recovery after hospitalization.

The research initiative employs a mixed-methods approach at two SNF sites to evaluate two primary objectives: (1) assessing the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and adherence of implementing STAMP within SNFs under usual care or high-intensity rehabilitation models through provider surveys and focus groups; and (2) evaluating the feasibility and variability of candidate outcome measures including gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery, Minimum Data Set activities of daily living assessments, and Modified Barthel Index scores. The program utilizes trained mobility aides working collaboratively with interdisciplinary rehabilitation and nursing teams to reduce sedentary time, promote sustained physical activity, and enhance successful community discharges for the 1.3 million older adults annually receiving post-acute care in SNFs.