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Best Practices: Helping Older Adults
Get Moving
Maria Avalos, BS, CHES
Health and Wellness Coordinator
West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
Bill Browning
Management Consultant
Alisa Phillips, MHA
Planning/Innovation Analyst
Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
Research on the benefits of PA
Active For Life studies - ALED
• Significant increases in moderate-
to vigorous-intensity physical
activity
• Decreased BMI
• Decrease in depressive symptoms
• Decreased reports of perceived
stress
Research on the benefits of PA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Arthritis study
• Reflected diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic status
• 86% of participants reported that they were more physically active than before they started the course
• 71% reported ALED excellent or good in reducing pain and stiffness
• Active Living Every Day now one of only 5 physical activity interventions included in CDC Arthritis Program
Research on the benefits of PA
Administration on Aging grant - ALED
• Focused on recruitment strategies based on the trans-
theoretical model (TTM)
• Motivation to enroll in Active Living Every Day significantly
influenced by TTM-based proactive recruitment methods
• Stated motivation factors: motivation to exercise, physical
activity ideas from peers, social engagement, and trust in
sponsoring organizations’ staff and programs
Research on the benefits of PA
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
• Greater energy/reduced fatigue
• Improved health status
• Greater self-efficacy
• Reductions in healthcare
expenditures
Research on the benefits of PA
A Matter of Balance
• Increased confidence in ability
to manage falls risk
• Concerns about falling interfere
less with social activities
• Increased levels of physical
activity
Research on the benefits of PA
ActiveStart – combines ALED and ExerStart
• Improvements in functional
fitness
• Increase in levels of physical
activity that were maintained
• Greater confidence in the ability
to exercise more on their own
Research on the benefits of PA
Tai Chi
• Reduce anxiety and depression
• Increase balance, flexibility, and muscle strength
• Relieve chronic pain
• Improve overall feelings of well-being
How do you choose an appropriate
physical activity program?
When choosing a program, wellness
strategy should be
• Well-documented
• Evidence-based
• Especially important with
disease management
programs
Why choose evidence-based
programs?
• Better for grant funding
• Some grants require
programs be evidence-based
• Offers accountability and
integrity
• Helps sell programs to hospitals
and other community programs
• Reassures participants
Getting your program startedPartnerships
• Securing partners
• Look at relationships you’ve already established in the community
• Take advantage of positive word of mouth
• Importance of ongoing communication
• Different partners for different
roles
• One partner to donate class
space, another to help lend
credence, etc
• Establish roles early on
Getting your program started
Marketing
• How do you promote programs and recruit participants?
• Build on momentum of local initiatives
• Answer the questions, ―What’s in it for me?‖
• Differences in marketing exercise programs vs. behavior
modification programs
• Consider stage of readiness to change
• Set expectations; fully describe the approach
Getting your program started
Motivating participants
• Consider stages of readiness to change
• How do you work with groups that include people in different stages?
• Social aspects
• Find champions among target audience
• Enthusiastic participants make great recruiters
Getting your program started
Motivating participants
• Staff considerations
• Positive attitude among all staff involved
• Good instructors are key
Program Management
Pre- and post-program evaluations
• Why are evaluations important?
• Pinpoint health issues/concerns
• Evaluate readiness to change
• Allow participants to see improvements
• Training staff to properly conduct evaluations
• Overcoming participant barriers to completing evaluations
Program Management
Think of participant comfort and safety
• Appropriate intensity levels
• Start with low-intensity
activities
• Be ready with modifications
• Safety
• Pain management
• Chronic disease implications
Sample evidence-based programs
Active Living Every Day
• 12 week program
• Helps people address
challenges to being active
• Group classes very effective with
older adults
• Explains strategies for including
lifestyle physical activity in their
daily lives
Sample evidence-based programs
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
• 6 week program
• Discuss techniques for dealing
with pain and isolation
• Explain appropriate exercise for
strength, flexibility, and
endurance
• Cover use of medication, and
importance of nutrition
Sample evidence-based programs
Active Start
• Combines Active Living Every
Day and ExerStart
• Incorporates behavior change
strategies and safe exercises
• Typically offered by lay leaders
Sample evidence-based programs
A Matter of Balance
• Offered in 8, 2-hour
sessions by lay leaders
(coaches)
• Involves problem solving
and assertiveness training
• Offer practical solutions and
exercise training
Sample evidence-based programs
Tai Chi
• Non-competitive, self-paced
gentle exercise and stretching
• Includes rhythmic movement
patterns combined with
breathing
• Improvements seen with regular
use
Questions?
For more information, contact:
Maria Avalos [email protected]
Bill Browning [email protected]
Alisa Phillips [email protected]
Michelle Maloney 800-747-4457 ext 2522
www.ActiveLiving.info
http://twitter.com/HKHealthy
Please join us for our next webinar
Physical Inactivity: The Biggest Public Health Problem of the 21st Century
In this free webinar, we investigate the health risks associated with physical
inactivity and discuss effective, proven methods you can take to encourage
people to start—and keep —moving. The webinar will be conducted by Dr.
Steven N. Blair, respected researcher and speaker specializing in exercise,
physical fitness, and chronic disease, and an author of Active Living Every
Day.
Tuesday, April 12 at 1:00 Eastern (12:00 Central)
Visit www.HumanKinetics.com/Webinars to register.
