<p>Physical activity programs for older people in the community receiving home care services: systematic review and meta-analysis</p>

Abstract

The proportion of older adults is increasing around the world and most wish to live in their home until they die. To achieve this, many will require services in the home to remain living independently. To maintain function (ie, strength, balance, and endurance), physical activity needs to be undertaken on a regular basis, and is essential as a person ages. Unfortunately, as people age there is a tendency to reduce activity levels, which often leads to loss of function and frailty, and the need for home care services. This updated systematic review includes a mix of study methodologies and meta-analysis, and investigated the effectiveness of physical activity/exercise interventions for older adults receiving home care services. Eighteen studies including ten randomized controlled trials meeting the selection criteria were identified. Many of the studies were multi-factorial interventions with the majority reporting aims beyond solely trying to improve the physical function of home care clients. The meta-analysis showed limited evidence for effectiveness of physical activity for older adults receiving home care services. Future exercise/physical activity studies working with home care populations should consider focusing solely on physical improvements, and need to include a process evaluation of the intervention to gain a better understanding of the association between adherence to the exercise program and other factors influencing effectiveness.

Use of a Technology-based System to Motivate Aged Persons in Performing Physical Activity: A Feasibility Study

“…The main reason is that people who go to day care facilities have better cognitive and physical functions than people in nursing homes. Furthermore, the sooner people maintain or initiate moderate to vigorous PA, the more likely they will age successfully, and the better quality of life these people will have when aging (1,3,5,6,8,10,13). Therefore, there should not only be general guidelines for the general population as generated by the WHO, but also general guidelines for nursing homes and day care facilities regarding the minimum amount of PA training per day or week.…”

“…Therefore, there should not only be general guidelines for the general population as generated by the WHO, but also general guidelines for nursing homes and day care facilities regarding the minimum amount of PA training per day or week. Although the bene ts of PA in aged persons have already been well documented (3,13), using technology while exercising has the bene ts of gathering quantitative data related to physical progress, amount of PA, etc. This is also implemented in i-ACT as not only the time of the execution is stored, but also the amount of targets reached, and the amount of compensational movements (26).…”

“…To be able to this, aged persons need to be able to perform activities of daily life (ADLs). And therefore, they need to maintain strength, balance, and endurance (13). Not only is it better for the aged persons to age in place as safely, independently, and comfortably as possible, it may also provide signi cant nancial advantages regarding health-care expenditures (14).…”

Enhancing existing formal home care to improve and maintain functional status in older adults: Protocol for a feasibility study on the implementation of the Care to Move (CTM) programme in an Irish healthcare setting

“…Research around structured exercise programmes has been completed in different groups of community-dwelling older people, however few studies have focused on the older population receiving formal home care. A recent systematic review of physical activity programmes for older people receiving home care identified few consistencies and recommended the need for more evidenced based trials investigating physical activity promotion programmes tailored for this group of older adults 16,17 .…”

The Importance of Physical Activity in the Interaction of Motor and Cognitive Functions in Elderly People

“…n the modern world, one of the most pressing topics is increasing life expectancy and the aging society. As people get older, they become less physically active, which often leads to loss of function and weakness, as well as the need for home care services (Burton et al, 2019). In Lithuania, there are 40.5% of adults who engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week or more (Liuima & Valentienė, 2018).…”