A Digital-Health Program Based on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for the Management of Older People at Their Home: Final Recommendations from the MULTIPLAT_AGE Network Project.

Background: The MULTIPLAT_AGE is a network project which developed a digital platform based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) for collecting data and identifying personalized healthcare programs for older people at home. In this article, the final recommendations of the MULTIPLAT_AGE Working Group are reported.

Methods: The MULTIPLAT_AGE project included five independent studies developed and carried out by five research centers according to two common principles previously shared by the researchers: (i) the multidimensional approach to older people through the CGA-based Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI); (ii) the use of a common web-based platform for collecting data to facilitate healthcare interventions of older people at their home according to the aging in place approach. At the end of the studies, a series of recommendations have been proposed by an expert panel including the principal investigators and discussed by all researchers involved in the MULTIPLAT_AGE project in formal meetings. After discussion, the recommendations have been approved with formal vote by all the researchers during the final meeting of the MULTIPLAT_AGE project.

Results: The recommendations are addressed to healthcare providers, policy decision-makers, caregivers, and patients. In summary, the CGA-based interventions and technologies adopted in the MULTIPLAT_AGE project reduced length of hospital stay, improved multidimensional frailty, walking safety, physical and cognitive performances, and reduced fear of falling in older people across different clinical settings and suffering from different diseases.

Conclusions: The final recommendations of the MULTIPLAT_AGE Working Group could be a useful instrument to facilitate the use of technologies along with CGA-based interventions to improve the management of older people at home.