Neurologically at-Risk Older Adults’ Experience with Telehealth-Delivered Multidisciplinary Lifestyle Interventions: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to explore experiences of older adults who completed a 12-week telehealth-delivered multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention (MLI) and examine factors influencing continued use of MLI practices. Methods: We used thematic analysis to identify patterns in open-ended, postintervention survey responses in a randomized trial of telehealth-delivered MLI, including yoga, music therapy, cognitive training, and nutrition. Results: Participants (mean age 63) were predominantly female (82%) and white (77%). They reported high satisfaction with the telehealth-delivered format and content. Key themes included enrollment motivation, delivery preferences, session content feedback, facilitators of long-term behavior change, and implementation suggestions. All participants indicated a high likelihood of continuing lifestyle changes beyond the intervention period, with nutritional (86%) and cognitive training (64%) being most endorsed. Conclusion: Telehealth-delivered MLI was acceptable and well-received among neurologically at-risk older adults. Participant insights can inform more engaging and sustainable lifestyle programs to promote brain health and support healthy aging.