School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Gerontologist. 2018 Jul 13;58(4):779-788. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnx101.
Regular physical activity (PA) benefits older adults. However, frail older adults lack opportunities to be physically active. This pilot study aimed to test and enhance the feasibility of a PA program delivered by home care aides (HCAs) for community-dwelling older adults in a Medicaid-funded home care setting and to generate preliminary efficacy and cost data.
HCAs were trained to deliver a brief motivational enhancement and three chair-bound movements to motivate their older clients to do PA daily and to help maintain their independence in the community. Mixed methods were used to evaluate clients' function and health before and after the 4-month intervention.
Clients' daily activity function and health outcomes (physical fitness, self-rated health, pain interference, and fear of falling) improved significantly. The program was well-received by clients (N = 54) and their HCAs (N = 46) as indicated by high retention rates among client participants (93%) and remarks provided by clients.
Building PA into the everyday care of older adults and the routine work of HCAs is feasible. The intervention has the potential for further implementation and dissemination.
有规律的身体活动(PA)有益于老年人。然而,体弱的老年人缺乏进行身体活动的机会。本试点研究旨在测试并增强由家庭保健助手(HCAs)为在医疗补助资助的家庭保健环境中居住在社区的老年人提供的 PA 计划的可行性,并生成初步的效果和成本数据。
HCAs 接受了培训,以进行简短的动机增强和三种坐姿运动,以激发他们的老年客户每天进行 PA,并帮助他们在社区中保持独立。在 4 个月的干预前后,使用混合方法评估了客户的功能和健康状况。
客户的日常活动功能和健康结果(身体适应性、自我评估健康状况、疼痛干扰和跌倒恐惧)显著改善。该计划受到客户(N=54)及其 HCAs(N=46)的欢迎,客户参与者的高保留率(93%)和客户的意见表明了这一点。
将 PA 融入老年人的日常护理和 HCAs 的日常工作是可行的。该干预措施具有进一步实施和传播的潜力。