A Novel Approach to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in Care Home Residents: The GET READY Study Utilising Service-Learning and Co-Creation

Abstract

The GET READY study aimed to integrate service-learning methodology into University degrees by offering students individual service opportunities with residential care homes, to co-create the best suited intervention to reduce the sedentary behaviour (SB) of residents throughout the day, with researchers, end-users, care staff, family members and policymakers. Eight workshops with care home residents and four workshops with care staff, relatives and policymakers, led by undergraduate students, were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and analysed with inductive thematic analysis to understand views and preferences for sustainable strategies to reduce SB and increase movement of residents. Perspectives about SB and movement in care homes highlighted four subthemes. Assets for decreasing SB included three subthemes, and suggestions and strategies encapsulated four subthemes. There is a need to include end-users in decision making, and involve care staff and relatives in enhancing strategies to reduce SB among residents if we want sustainable changes in behaviour. A change in the culture at a policymaker and care staff’s level could provide opportunities to open care homes to the community with regular activities outside the care home premises, and offer household chores and opportunities to give residents a role in maintaining their home environment.

Reducing Sedentary Time among Older Adults in Assisted Living: Perceptions, Barriers, and Motivators

“…We found that this challenge is compounded by aging attitudes, lack of motivation, social norms, and safety concerns, which all promote sitting. This is consistent with the findings of Gine-Garriga et al [22], who also reported that older adults in residential care spoke of a highly sedentary daily routine with little encouragement to move. The sedentary nature of these residences is supported by evidence that older adults in assisted living accumulate markedly less time standing and walking compared to older adults who live independently [20,21], and studies have shown a rapid decline in function among assisted living residents [32].…”

“…For example, while Chastin et al [16] found that activities of daily living and household chores were a key motive for reducing sedentary time in community dwelling older adults, in assisted living the absence of domestic chores was identified as a barrier. To our knowledge, only one other study has examined barriers or motivators to reducing sedentary time within an assisted living environment [22] although the results focused more on the benefits of being physically active or exercising rather than the benefits of breaking up prolonged sitting. Participants in that study [22] offered suggestions that were consistent with our findings, including: support from family and staff; giving residents a purposeful reason to move (i.e.…”

“…Given that domestic chores and food preparation are common motivators for breaking up sedentary time among community dwelling older adults [17], it is not surprising that individuals in assisted-living accumulate less time standing and moving compared to their community dwelling counterparts [20,21]. Residents in care homes in Scotland and Spain reported that the daily routine in their facilities was highly inactive and they felt that they were discouraged by staff from being active due to concerns about safety [22]. Clearly, there are numerous influences on behavior in this type of residential setting, and there are unique challenges and opportunities to consider when designing behavioral interventions for assisted living.…”

A Pilot Randomised Clinical Trial of a Novel Approach to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour in Care Home Residents: Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of the GET READY Study

“…An earlier stage of the GET READY project integrated a service-learning methodology into physical therapy and sport sciences university degrees by offering students individual service opportunities with residential care homes. They were tasked to co-create the best suited intervention to reduce the SB of residents and enhance movement throughout the day, together with researchers, end-users, care staff members, family members, and policymakers [38]. In the current stage of the GET READY project, we conducted a pilot two-armed pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial with baseline and end-of-intervention assessments.…”

“…Thus, within a pilot two-armed pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT), we aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of an intervention to reduce SB and enhance PA, which was previously co-created with care home residents, staff, family members, and policymakers [38]. Our secondary aim was to assess the preliminary effects of the intervention to reduce SB and improve health-related outcomes.…”