Increasing evidence suggests that physical inactivity is a prime contributor to poor health, poor functioning, and diminished well-being in older adults. This in turn leads to increased likelihood of use of health care services and institutionalization. Strategies to preserve and enhance the physical capabilities of older people may thus provide major health and cost-saving benefits. We propose a 3-year project to implement and evaluate a program to increase the physical activity levels of noninstitutionalized older adults. The program makes use of the many existing physical activity classes in the community (Palo Alto, California). This feature minimizes program costs, enables people to continue their new activities beyond the grant period, and facilitates the program's transferability to other communities. The program will be targeted to all residents in two similar community senior housing facilities in Palo Alto. The program, which is based on social learning and related approaches to intervention, focuses on encouraging participants to initiate and maintain higher levels of physical activity through increased utilization of already available community programs. The intervention will include group sessions, individual counseling, peer advocates, partnering participants with others interested in the same activities, and environmental strategies to enhance participation. It also includes community-level strategies such as the use of media and physician recommendations to become more active. In phase L the 6-month program will be implemented in one facility (N= 120) with the second facility serving as a comparison group (N=80). Evaluation of the program will be based on a comparison of these two groups using a quasi-experimental design. Primary outcomes of the evaluation are participation in physical activity classes and more general levels Of physical activity. Secondary outcomes focus on a comprehensive profile of functioning and well-being. In Phase II, the ability of participants in the experimental group to maintain physical activity levels after the program ends will be evaluated for a second 6-month period, and the replicability of the program will be tested in the second facility. Our goal is to develop a model for community-based and community-sustained programs to help older adults utilize existing fitness resources and maintain interest and participation in those programs at a level sufficient to obtain desirable health benefits.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AG009931-01
Application #
3121861
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (HSDG)
Project Start
1991-06-01
Project End
1994-05-31
Budget Start
1991-06-01
Budget End
1992-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
073133571
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Grossman, Melanie D; Stewart, Anita L (2003) ""You aren't going to get better by just sitting around"": physical activity perceptions, motivations, and barriers in adults 75 years of age or older. Am J Geriatr Cardiol 12:33-7
Bennett, Jill A; Stewart, Anita L; Kayser-Jones, Jeanie et al. (2002) The mediating effect of pain and fatigue on level of functioning in older adults. Nurs Res 51:254-65
Stewart, A L; Mills, K M; King, A C et al. (2001) CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire for older adults: outcomes for interventions. Med Sci Sports Exerc 33:1126-41
Harada, N D; Chiu, V; King, A C et al. (2001) An evaluation of three self-report physical activity instruments for older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 33:962-70
Stewart, A L; Verboncoeur, C J; McLellan, B Y et al. (2001) Physical activity outcomes of CHAMPS II: a physical activity promotion program for older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 56:M465-70
Verboncoeur, C J; Stewart, A L; King, A C et al. (2000) The use of refusal postcards in recruiting older adults. Ann Behav Med 22:330-3
Harada, N D; Chiu, V; Stewart, A L (1999) Mobility-related function in older adults: assessment with a 6-minute walk test. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 80:837-41
Damush, T M; Stewart, A L; Mills, K M et al. (1999) Prevalence and correlates of physician recommendations to exercise among older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 54:M423-7
Stewart, A L; Mills, K M; Sepsis, P G et al. (1997) Evaluation of CHAMPS, a physical activity promotion program for older adults. Ann Behav Med 19:353-61
Mills, K M; Stewart, A L; King, A C et al. (1996) Factors associated with enrollment of older adults into a physical activity promotion program. J Aging Health 8:96-113

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