Physical activity for older adults

Background: Aging is an inevitable process associated with a variety of physical and cognitive declines. Francophone older adults living in communities in New Brunswick (Canada) are severely affected by these declines. The practice of physical activity (PA) could potentially attenuate these age-related declines of Francophones from linguistic-minority communities. Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the effect of a community-based PA program on physical and cognitive function of Francophone older adults in New Brunswick. Methods: Forty-two healthy, Francophone, community-dwelling older adults (mean age: 71,3 ± 6,3, 38 women) consented to participate in a 10-week community-based PA program (at least 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous PA per week) study. A series of physical and cognitive tests were administered pre and post intervention. We measured participant’s physical (Senior Fitness Test) and cognitive (computerized Stroop task (naming, inhibition, cognitive flexibility) and Trail Making Test (TMT) (part A and B)) performance. Results: Results for the Stroop task showed a significant improvement in reaction time for the naming condition (p < 0.001) and in the response accuracy for the cognitive flexibility condition (most demanding cognitively) (p = 0.006). Part B of TMT (cognitive flexibility) also improved significantly after intervention (p = 0.019). For physical performance, older adults significantly improved their walking speed, cardiorespiratory capacity, and lower limb strength (all three, p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the physical and cognitive improvements. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that a 10-week community-based PA program can be associated with improvements in cognitive and physical functions of Francophone older adults from linguistic-minority communities. Practical implications: Community-based PA interventions appear to be an effective strategy for mitigating the age-related to physical and cognitive declines of older adults from communities where the burden of aging is amplified.

Background: Peer-volunteering pairs active older adults with inactive ones to attend activities together, aiming to reduce major mobility limitations. A scoping review exploring the motivations of peer-volunteers in physical activity interventions indicated that most peer-volunteers are White, so our understanding of volunteering motivations of ethnic minorities is limited. This may be an issue in engaging minority groups as evidence suggests people prefer to be paired with someone of a similar background to themselves. Statistics suggest Asian people are less likely to volunteer than other ethnicities, highlighting the need to recruit from these communities to then reach inactive older adults of Asian ethnicities. Purpose: This research explored the experiences of helping others within these communities, and the barriers and facilitators that may impact volunteering uptake. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with people aged over 50 from the Chinese (N=16) and Bangladeshi (N=20) communities to explore barriers and facilitators to peer-volunteering, analysed using thematic analysis. Follow-up, individual interviews (Chinese N=5; Bangladeshi N=7) delved deeper into personal experiences and thoughts on peer-volunteering, using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Results: Pre-liminary themes highlight key barriers to becoming a peer-volunteer include financial, language, activity availability and prior commitments (including informal volunteering), with differences observed between ethnicities. Conclusions: Working with communities to ensure that these barriers can be addressed is imperative for recruitment of peer-volunteers. Establishing community based physical activity opportunities would help overcome many of the suggested barriers. Practical implications: Future intervention design should consider the barriers that people from diverse communities face. This would allow for active ageing interventions to be more successful in reaching a range of people from different ethnicities by building upon barriers and employing the community’s unique facilitators to these initiatives. Funding: This presentation presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration-Greater Manchester (NIHR200174).

Background. Despite the well-established benefits of physical activity, older adults are often insufficiently physically active and tend to engage in excessive sedentary behavior, necessitating an evaluation of modifiable determinants. Purpose. This systematic review with meta-analysis aims to identify best-evidence statements on modifiable determinants influencing physical activity and sedentary behavior among older adults through a comprehensive evidence assessment. Methods. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included (randomized) controlled trials addressing modifiable determinants of physical activity or sedentary behavior among older adults (≥ 65 years). Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane’s RoB2.0, and meta-analysis was performed using random effects models with standardized mean differences (SMD) for device-based steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior. Results. Fifty-two intervention studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of the postintervention differences revealed that interventions focusing on physical health and wellbeing determinants are associated with an increase in the number of steps (SMD=0.46, 95%CI=0.15 to 0.77) and in minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (SMD=0.41, 95%CI=0.19 to 0.64) compared to the control condition, whereas interventions focusing on psychological or behavioral determinants revealed no differences in steps (SMD=0.12, 95%CI=-0.12 to 0.32) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (SMD=0.26, 95%CI=-0.24 to 0.75). Interventions focusing on physical health and wellbeing determinants showed significant heterogeneity (I2=90.8%, Q=196.46, p<0.001 and I2=61.6%, Q=28.68, p<0.01, respectively), but moderation analysis based on setting (community vs healthcare) did not reveal significant results (χ2(1)=2.00, p=0.16 and χ2(1)=0.99, p=0.32). No significant reductions were observed in sedentary behavior. Conclusions. Despite the high heterogeneity, our meta-analysis suggests that interventions focusing on physical health and wellbeing can effectively enhance physical activity in older adults. Practical implications. Addressing the knowledge gap, future research should prioritize randomized controlled trials exploring the impact of modifying psychological, behavioral, and social-cultural determinants on older adults' activity levels. Funding: COST Action CA19101

Background: PA participation among older adults can be influenced by various barriers, such as physical limitations due to health conditions or aging, a lack of professional guidance, and an inadequate distribution of information on available PA options. Perceived PA barriers among community-dwelling older adults and older adults in assisted living facilities can vary based on their living arrangements and individual circumstances. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare perceived PA constraints among community-dwelling older adults and older adults in assisted living facilities Methods: The study sample comprised 130 individuals living in assisted living facilities and 152 community dwelling older adults. Totally, 149 women and 133 men participated. Leisure Time Physical Activity Constraints Scale consisting of 38 items and 8 subscales was used as a data collection tool. Results:The 2×2 2-way MANOVA results indicated a significant main effect of living area (Pillai’s V=0.345; F(10,269)= 14.185, p<0.001, η2= 0.345). The gender and the interaction between the living area and gender were insignificant. The follow-up ANOVAs indicated significant differences in physical ability, facility, income, family, time, willpower, and social environment subscales. In all subscales, community dwelling older adults reported higher constraints. Conclusions: Community-dwelling older adults may face barriers such as adverse weather conditions, fear of falling, lack of access to suitable PA options, and concerns about safety. Furthermore, the availability of social support, access to appropriate PA programs, and the perception of health barriers can influence PA levels among older adults in assisted living settings (Sanders et al., 2018). Practical implications: Understanding the unique barriers faced by community-dwelling older adults and older adults in assisted living facilities is crucial for developing effective interventions to promote physical activity and enhance overall well-being in these populations.

Background: Intergenerational programs (IGPs) hold promise to increase physical activity (PA) in both children and older adults. Family relationships can play a crucial role within IGPs, as the intergenerational bond between grandchildren and -parents may provide a foundation for mutual support and motivation. Unfortunately, existing IGPs often lack evidence-based development and fail to address the specific needs of the target groups, leading to limited effectiveness. By using a participatory and evidence-based approach, more tailored and effective IGPs can be developed. Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of an evidence-based, co-created intergenerational PA intervention, the “Ages get Active” intervention, in increasing co-physical activity (co-PA) in grandchildren and grandparents, and its impact on their relationship quality and psychosocial well-being. Methods: The intervention, developed using the Behavior Change Wheel, included four key components: an educational session, six organized group-based PA sessions, a practical physical activities booklet to use at home, and a list of community-based physical activities. (Co-)PA was assessed using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometers and diaries, while the familial relationship and psychosocial well-being were evaluated through standardized and validated questionnaires. Results: The intervention is scheduled to take place from April to September 2024. It is hypothesized that (co-)PA, the relationship quality and psychosocial well-being will be improved in both grandparents and grandchildren. The findings will be presented at the congress. Conclusions: The intervention suggests promising outcomes for increasing (co-)PA and psychosocial well-being among grandchildren and grandparents. By addressing the specific needs of these target groups and focusing on family relationships as a motivational strength, this intervention holds potential for enhancing both physical and psychological health across generations. Practical implications: The ”Ages get Active” program may improve both the physical and psychological health, emphasizing the role of familial relationships in sustaining engagement and motivation, thereby enhancing the program’s scale-up and long-term efficacy. Funding: Not applicable

Background: Dog ownership has been associated with increased physical activity, however few studies among older adults have examined whether this is a result of acquiring a dog. Purpose: To use longitudinal data to examine the effects of dog acquisition on changes in physical activity among community-dwelling mid-to-older aged adults. Methods: Participants aged 40-65 years in the ‘How Areas in Brisbane Influence healTh and AcTivity’ (HABITAT) cohort study self-reported total physical activity, total walking, and dog ownership across five waves and nine years of follow up. Physical activity measures were compared for males (n=904) and females (n=1166) between a subset of participants who had acquired a dog between waves 1 and 2 and continuing non-dog owners using linear mixed effects models with group-by-time interactions and restricted cubic splines. Results: Trajectories of walking and total physical activity differed significantly between female dog acquired and non-dog owner groups (interaction p<0.05). Females who acquired a dog increased their walking from 132.3mins/week (95%CI 98.6, 166.0) at wave 1 to 201.6mins/week (95%CI 169.9, 233.3) at wave 5. Weekly walking among female non-dog owners remained reasonably stable from wave 1 to wave 5. Differences in females’ total physical activity were due to small increases among the dog acquired group and small decreases among the non-dog owner group. Trajectories of physical activity did not differ between dog ownership groups for males, nor for moderate or vigorous physical activity in females. Conclusions: Acquiring a dog was associated with increased walking among mid-to-older aged females. Practical implications: Dog ownership could be a way for mid-to-older aged females to maintain regular physical activity during ageing. Funding: EA is supported by an RTP Fees Offset, RTP Stipend, a UWA and Graduate Women (WA) Research Scholarship, and a Stan and Jean Perron Top Up Scholarship.