scholarly journals The interplay of physical and social wellbeing in older adults: investigating the relationship between physical training and social interactions with virtual social environments

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. e30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Khaghani Far ◽  
Michela Ferron ◽  
Francisco Ibarra ◽  
Marcos Baez ◽  
Stefano Tranquillini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Physical Training ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Social Facilitation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Home Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
At Home

Background.Regular physical activity can substantially improve the physical wellbeing of older adults, preventing several chronic diseases and increasing cognitive performance and mood. However, research has shown that older adults are the most sedentary segment of society, spending much of their time seated or inactive. A variety of barriers make it difficult for older adults to maintain an active lifestyle, including logistical difficulties in going to a gym (for some adults, leaving home can be challenging), reduced functional abilities, and lack of motivation. In this paper, we report on the design and evaluation of Gymcentral. A training application running on tablet was designed to allow older adults to follow a personalized home-based exercise program while being remotely assisted by a coach. The objective of the study was to assess if a virtual gym that enables virtual presence and social interaction is more motivating for training than the same virtual gym without social interaction.Methods.A total of 37 adults aged between 65 and 87 years old (28 females and 9 males, mean age = 71, sd = 5.8) followed a personalized home-based strength and balance training plan for eight weeks. The participants performed the exercises autonomously at home using the Gymcentral application. Participants were assigned to two training groups: the Social group used an application with persuasive and social functionalities, while the Control group used a basic version of the service with no persuasive and social features. We further explored the effects of social facilitation, and in particular of virtual social presence, in user participation to training sessions. Outcome measures were adherence, persistence and co-presence rate.Results.Participants in the Social group attended significantly more exercise sessions than the Control group, providing evidence of a better engagement in the training program. Besides the focus on social persuasion measures, the study also confirms that a virtual gym service is effective for supporting individually tailored home-based physical training for older adults. The study also confirms that social facilitation tools motivate users to train together in a virtual fitness environment.Discussion.The study confirms that Gymcentral increases the participation of older adults in physical training compare to a similar version of the application without social and persuasive features. In addition, a significant increase in the co-presence of the Social group indicates that social presence motivates the participants to join training sessions at the same time with the other participants. These results are encouraging, as they motivate further research into using home-based training programs as an opportunity to stay physically and socially active, especially for those who for various reasons are bound to stay at home.

scholarly journals Social Buffering in Rats: Prolactin Attenuation of Active Interaction

2008 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore P. Insana ◽  
Janie H. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Conditioned Fear ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Partner ◽  
Experimental Chamber ◽  
Social Buffering ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Control ◽  
Active Interaction

Stress may result when the present environment is interpreted as threatening, and stress is known to increase the prolactin-secretory response. In the present study, rats ( N=83) were exposed to a conditioned-fear paradigm (environment paired with footshock), and on testing day, rats were exposed to the experimental chamber without shock while alone (Alone n= 16), with an object (Object n= 17), with a euthanized conspecific (Euthanized n = 16), or with a social partner (Social n = 19). The control group (Control n = 15) was exposed to the experimental chamber but was never shocked. The Control group had significantly lower levels of prolactin than the Alone, Object, and Euthanized groups; however, the Control group's levels of prolactin were not significantly different than that of the Social group, which was significantly lower than that for the Alone group. Social interaction decreased fear independent of the distraction provided by a stimulus in the chamber. Active touch appeared to be crucial for social buffering to occur.

scholarly journals Effects of online group exercises for older adults on physical, psychological and social wellbeing: a randomized pilot trial

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Baez ◽  
Iman Khaghani Far ◽  
Francisco Ibarra ◽  
Michela Ferron ◽  
Daniele Didino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Wellbeing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Physical Skills ◽  
Online Group

BackgroundIntervention programs to promote physical activity in older adults, either in group or home settings, have shown equivalent health outcomes but different results when considering adherence. Group-based interventions seem to achieve higher participation in the long-term. However, there are many factors that can make of group exercises a challenging setting for older adults. A major one, due to the heterogeneity of this particular population, is the difference in the level of skills. In this paper we report on the physical, psychological and social wellbeing outcomes of a technology-based intervention that enable online group exercises in older adults with different levels of skills.MethodsA total of 37 older adults between 65 and 87 years old followed a personalized exercise program based on the OTAGO program for fall prevention, for a period of eight weeks. Participants could join online group exercises using a tablet-based application. Participants were assigned either to the Control group, representing the traditional individual home-based training program, or the Social group, representing the online group exercising. Pre- and post- measurements were taken to analyze the physical, psychological and social wellbeing outcomes.ResultsAfter the eight-weeks training program there were improvements in both the Social and Control groups in terms of physical outcomes, given the high level of adherence of both groups. Considering the baseline measures, however, the results suggest that while in the Control group fitter individuals tended to adhere more to the training, this was not the case for the Social group, where the initial level had no effect on adherence. For psychological outcomes there were improvements on both groups, regardless of the application used. There was no significant difference between groups in social wellbeing outcomes, both groups seeing a decrease in loneliness despite the presence of social features in the Social group. However, online social interactions have shown to be correlated to the decrease in loneliness in the Social group.ConclusionThe results indicate that technology-supported online group-exercising which conceals individual differences in physical skills is effective in motivating and enabling individuals who are less fit to train as much as fitter individuals. This not only indicates the feasibility of training togetherdespitedifferences in physical skills but also suggests that online exercise might reduce the effect of skills on adherence in a social context. However, results from this pilot are limited to a small sample size and therefore are not conclusive. Longer term interventions with more participants are instead recommended to assess impacts on wellbeing and behavior change.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Experiences of a Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Intervention: A Nested Qualitative Study in the SITLESS Multi-Country Randomised Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4730
Author(s):  
Nicole Blackburn ◽  
Mathias Skjodt ◽  
Mark Tully ◽  
Ilona Mc Mullan ◽  
Maria Giné-Garriga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Randomised Clinical Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Qualitative Methodologies ◽  
Exercise Referral

Background: The SITLESS programme comprises exercise referral schemes and self-management strategies and has been evaluated in a trial in Denmark, Spain, Germany and Northern Ireland. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the implementation and contextual aspects of the intervention in relation to the mechanisms of impact and to explore the perceived effects. Methods: Qualitative methodologies were nested in the SITLESS trial including 71 individual interviews and 12 focus groups targeting intervention and control group participants from postintervention to 18-month follow-up in all intervention sites based on a semi-structured topic guide. Results: Overarching themes were identified under the framework categories of context, implementation, mechanisms of impact and perceived effects. The findings highlight the perceived barriers and facilitators to older adults’ engagement in exercise referral schemes. Social interaction and enjoyment through the group-based programmes are key components to promote adherence and encourage the maintenance of targeted behaviours through peer support and connectedness. Exit strategies and signposting to relevant classes and facilities enabled the maintenance of positive lifestyle behaviours. Conclusions: When designing and implementing interventions, key components enhancing social interaction, enjoyment and continuity should be in place in order to successfully promote sustained behaviour change.

scholarly journals Initiation of therapy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a randomized comparison of outcomes of telemetry-supported home-based vs. sleep lab-based therapy initiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Fietze ◽  
Sebastian Herberger ◽  
Gina Wewer ◽  
Holger Woehrle ◽  
Katharina Lederer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sleep Laboratory ◽  
Home Therapy ◽  
Home Management ◽  
Therapy Initiation ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
At Home

Abstract Purpose Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea are traditionally performed in sleep laboratories with polysomnography (PSG) and are associated with significant waiting times for patients and high cost. We investigated if initiation of auto-titrating CPAP (APAP) treatment at home in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and subsequent telemonitoring by a homecare provider would be non-inferior to in-lab management with diagnostic PSG, subsequent in-lab APAP initiation, and standard follow-up regarding compliance and disease-specific quality of life. Methods This randomized, open-label, single-center study was conducted in Germany. Screening occurred between December 2013 and November 2015. Eligible patients with moderate-to-severe OSA documented by polygraphy (PG) were randomized to home management or standard care. All patients were managed by certified sleep physicians. The home management group received APAP therapy at home, followed by telemonitoring. The control group received a diagnostic PSG, followed by therapy initiation in the sleep laboratory. The primary endpoint was therapy compliance, measured as average APAP usage after 6 months. Results The intention-to-treat population (ITT) included 224 patients (110 home therapy, 114 controls); the per-protocol population (PP) included 182 patients with 6-month device usage data (89 home therapy, 93 controls). In the PP analysis, mean APAP usage at 6 months was not different in the home therapy and control groups (4.38 ± 2.04 vs. 4.32 ± 2.28, p = 0.845). The pre-specified non-inferiority margin (NIM) of 0.3 h/day was not achieved (p = 0.130); statistical significance was achieved in a post hoc analysis when NIM was set at 0.5 h/day (p < 0.05). Time to APAP initiation was significantly shorter in the home therapy group (7.6 ± 7.2 vs. 46.1 ± 23.8 days; p < 0.0001). Conclusion Use of a home-based telemonitoring strategy for initiation of APAP in selected patients with OSA managed by sleep physicians is feasible, appears to be non-inferior to standard sleep laboratory procedures, and facilitates faster access to therapy.

scholarly journals Social Support Patterns of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Within a Physical Activity App: Secondary Mixed Method Analysis

JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/12496 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e12496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
The Social ◽  
Method Analysis

Background Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. Objective This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. Methods Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. Results Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. Conclusions Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348

scholarly journals Social Support Patterns of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Within a Physical Activity App: Secondary Mixed Method Analysis (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zakkoyya H Lewis ◽  
Maria C Swartz ◽  
Eloisa Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth J Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
The Social ◽  
Method Analysis

BACKGROUND Physical activity (PA) is critical for maintaining independence and delaying mobility disability in aging adults. However, 27 to 44% of older adults in the United States are meeting the recommended PA level. Activity trackers are proving to be a promising tool to promote PA adherence through activity tracking and enhanced social interaction features. Although social support has been known to be an influential behavior change technique to promote PA, how middle-aged and older adults use the social interaction feature of mobile apps to provide virtual support to promote PA engagement remains mostly underexplored. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the social support patterns of middle-aged and older adults using a mobile app as part of a behavioral PA intervention. METHODS Data from 35 participants (mean age 61.66 [SD 6] years) in a 12-week, home-based activity intervention were used for this secondary mixed method analysis. Participants were provided with a Jawbone Up24 activity monitor and an Apple iPad Mini installed with the UP app to facilitate self-monitoring and social interaction. All participants were given an anonymous account and encouraged to interact with other participants using the app. Social support features included comments and likes. Thematic coding was used to identify the type of social support provided within the UP app and characterize the levels of engagement from users. Participants were categorized as superusers or contributors, and passive participants were categorized as lurkers based on the literature. RESULTS Over the 12-week intervention, participants provided a total of 3153 likes and 1759 comments. Most participants (n=25) were contributors, with 4 categorized as superusers and 6 categorized as lurkers. Comments were coded as emotional support, informational support, instrumental support, self-talk, and other, with emotional support being the most prevalent type. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort of middle-aged and older adults was willing to use the social network feature in an activity app to communicate with anonymous peers. Most of our participants were contributors. In addition, the social support provided through the activity app followed social support constructs. In sum, PA apps are a promising tool for delivering virtual social support to enhance PA engagement and have the potential to make a widespread impact on PA promotion. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01869348; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869348

Effects of a home-based physical training and activity promotion program in community-dwelling older persons with cognitive impairment after discharge from rehabilitation: A randomized controlled trial

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phoebe Ullrich ◽  
Christian Werner ◽  
Anton Schönstein ◽  
Martin Bongartz ◽  
Tobias Eckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Physical Capacity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

Abstract Background Older people with cognitive impairment (CI) are at high risk for mobility limitations and adverse outcomes after discharge from geriatric rehabilitation settings. Study aim was to estimate the effects of a specifically designed home-based physical training and activity promotion program on physical capacity, different aspects of physical activity (PA), and psychosocial status. Methods Patients with mild-to-moderate CI (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]: 17-26 points) discharged home after rehabilitation were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 12-week intervention and 12-week follow-up period. The intervention group performed a CI-specific, autonomous, home-based strength, balance and walking training supported by tailored motivational strategies to foster training adherence and promote PA. The control group participated in an unspecific motor placebo activity. Primary outcomes were physical capacity (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) and PA (sensor-based activity time). Results Among 118 randomized participants (82.3±6.0 years) with CI (MMSE: 23.3±2.4) and high levels of multi-morbidity, those participants undergoing home-based training demonstrated superior outcomes to the control group in SPPB (mean difference between groups 1.9 points; 95%-CI: 1.0-2.8; p&lt;.001), with persistent benefits over the follow-up (1.3 points; 95%-CI: 0.4-2.2; p&lt;.001). There were no differences in PA across any time points. Among secondary outcomes, fear of falling and activity avoidance behavior were reduced in the intervention group at all time points, life-space mobility improved short-term. Conclusions Study results demonstrate clinically important benefits of an individually tailored autonomous physical training and activity promotion program on physical capacity and secondary outcomes in different domains in a vulnerable, multi-morbid population.

scholarly journals Home-Based Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) during COVID-19 Pandemic: From Challenges to Solutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9303
Author(s):  
Atiqur sm-Rahman ◽  
Chih Hung Lo ◽  
Azra Ramic ◽  
Yasmin Jahan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Home Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Home Based Care ◽  
The Impact

There has been supporting evidence that older adults with underlying health conditions form the majority of the fatal cases in the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. While the impact of COVID-19 is affecting the general public, it is clear that these distressful experiences will be magnified in older adults, particularly people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD), making them the most vulnerable group during this time. People with differing degrees of ADRD are especially susceptible to the virus, not only because of their difficulties in assessing the threat or remembering the safety measures, but also because of the likelihood to be subject to other risk factors, such as lack of proper care and psychological issues. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss the challenges related to home-based care for people with ADRD during a pandemic and propose a formulation of systematic solutions to address these challenges and to alleviate the social and economic impact resulting from the crisis.

scholarly journals Promoting Participation in Daily Activities Through Reablement: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Trine A. Magne ◽  
Kjersti Vik
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Sense Of Security ◽  
The Social

A well-known prediction is that the growing elderly population will place a strain on our healthcare systems. At the same time, healthcare is becoming increasingly patient-centered and individualized, with the patient becoming an active participant rather than a mere object of healthcare. The need for change may be met by using a reablement service, utilizing the rehabilitation mindset through home-based services. Rehabilitation and reablement aim to provide opportunities for individuals to participate to a maximum of their potential. This study is part of a larger research project exploring different aspects of reablement in municipalities. It aims to describe how older adults engage in daily activities within the context of reablement and to explore participation in daily activities. A qualitative design was chosen, and the study is explorative in nature due to limited research on participants’ experience with reablement. Ten older adults age 70 to 94 years old were recruited and interviewed. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using systematic text condensation (STC) strategies. This study provides insights on how older adults experience participation in daily activities and important aspects for performing these activities and living independently as long as possible. Based on the older adults’ experiences, three main themes were identified when receiving reablement. First, what to achieve with reablement and feeling a sense of security to participate in daily activities. Second, how to carry out wanted activities using different skills and last, how the social network is important for enabling active living. This calls for healthcare workers to address and facilitate these in reablement. Our findings show the importance of collaborating with the social network and strengthening participation in daily activities to establish and develop existing reablement services.

Social Interaction in Walking Groups and Affective Responses Among Japanese Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhiro Harada ◽  
Kouhei Masumoto ◽  
Ai Fukuzawa ◽  
Michiko Touyama ◽  
Koji Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Affective Responses ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
The Social ◽  
Japanese Older Adults ◽  
Positive Engagement ◽  
Walking Group

This study examined whether satisfaction with social interactions and the number of people interacted with during walking groups is associated with affective responses among older adults. Twenty-six older adults were asked to participate in five walking group sessions. The participants walked together for 40–50 min. In every session, the participants reported their affective responses to walking (positive engagement, tranquility, and negative affect), their level of satisfaction with the social interactions experienced, and the number of people interacted with during the walk. The available data were from 107 person-sessions. Multilevel models revealed that, although a higher number of people interacted with was not significantly associated with improvements in any affective responses, higher satisfaction with the interactions was significantly associated with improvements in positive engagement at both the within- and between-person levels. This study found that higher satisfaction with the interactions was associated with desirable affective responses among older adults.

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