Recommendations on Physical Activity and Exercise for Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Taskforce Report

Exercise or Social Intervention for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Pilot Randomized, Controlled Trial

“…The positive points of this study were that the findings will inform a larger, well‐dimensioned RCT; the intervention was longer than those of most RCTs of exercise for institutionalized PWDs; and the exercise regimen adhered to several aspects of recent evidence‐based guidelines of exercise for NH residents . The most‐important lessons from this pilot study were that 6‐month exercise and social interventions are feasible in PWDs living in NHs, although recruitment rates should be conservatively estimated (10–15 people per NH) and that involvement of NH staff must be carefully considered to avoid lack of motivation and time.…”

“…Exercise, a structured, repetitive and purposeful subset of physical activity, is a powerful intervention to improve or maintain functional status in institutionalized older adults . Although exercise may improve dementia care by addressing other health problems (e.g., depression, sarcopenia), evidence of the benefits of exercise for the functional status of PWDs is inconsistent . Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise for institutionalized PWDs have had methodological limitations, such as lack of cluster randomization (to avoid contamination between study arms) and short intervention length (<16 weeks for most).…”

Effects of Multicomponent Exercise on Frailty in Long‐Term Nursing Homes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise‐based programs may help reduce frailty in community‐dwelling older adults . However, little is known about the capacity of these interventions to tackle frailty among LTNH residents, a complex population in terms of physical and cognitive functions . Recent studies show that implementation of physical exercise programs in LTNH settings is effective for improving strength, gait ability, and balance .…”

“…[9][10][11] However, little is known about the capacity of these interventions to tackle frailty among LTNH residents, a complex population in terms of physical and cognitive functions. 12 Recent studies show that implementation of physical exercise programs in LTNH settings is effective for improving strength, gait ability, and balance. [13][14][15][16] Considering that clinical frailty scales include components such as strength and gait ability, exercise programs could also be effective to reduce frailty in this population.…”

Engaging in even a small amount of walking is associated with lower mortality in older adults

“…Most of the nursing home residents spend their day inactive (frequently in a sitting position), and due to their generalised loss of capabilities and increased vulnerability, they could benefit most from physical activity and exercise 1 4 5. Walking with or without aids is an available option for many older adults living in nursing homes, and if such activity is not possible there are alternative activities that could be performed even sitting in a chair 4. Above all, ‘anything is better than nothing’, and after starting with ‘anything’ it could be possible to achieve new levels of physical activity.…”