cihr_grants: 167488
This data as json
| external_id | title | project_lead_name | co_researchers | institution | province | country | competition_year | award_amount | program | program_type | theme | research_subject | keywords | abstract | duration | source_url |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 167488 | Exercise in Older Adults: A demonstration and evaluation of the "Get Fit for Active Living" intervention. | Paterson Donald H | Paterson, Donald H; Fitzgerald, Clara; Speechley, Mark | Western University (Ontario) | Ontario | Canada | 200803 | 341383.0 | Operating Grant: Demonstration Projects in Mobility in Aging | Operating Grants | Social / Cultural / Environmental / Population Health | Aging | Behaviour Modification / Adherence; Delayed Catch-Up Research Design; Evaluation; Functional Fitness; Knowledge Translation; Physical Activity For Older Adults | Policies on physical activity for older adults tend to advocate even minor increases in daily physical activity, on the grounds that any is better than none. While this may be true, recent evidence suggests that minor increases in activity result in at most minor gains in health. To achieve full benefit of an active lifestyle, a more structured exercise/activity program is required. The program should consist of moderate and vigorous intensity aerobic activity for 30 minutes/day, 4-5 days/week to gain cardiorespiratory fitness, prevent functional decline, and strength and power exercises 2 days/week to maintain muscle mass and performance. Thus, there is a disconnect between best practices, and what is believed by most to be the type and amount of physical activity required by older adults to engender health, functional fitness, and independent living. Many people begin exercising each year. In spite of good intentions, a lot of them do not continue to exercise. Recognizing this problem, the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA) developed an 8-week intervention("Get Fit for Active Living", GFAL) that educates older adults about the importance of exercise, and provides experience in developing an exercise routine, which in turn motivates them to maintain the lifestyle. The rationale was that older adults need "experiential learning" while they develop an exercise program, and that with gains in fitness the older adults would experience less fatigue in daily activities and maintain a more active lifestyle. The CCAA has trained over 40 facilitators of this program nationally, and initial pilot work suggests the program indeed fosters adherence to an active lifestyle. Over 3 years, this project will formally evaluate the GFAL program by studying its effect on the functional fitness, quality of life, and enhanced independence of 300 older adult "Meals on Wheels" volunteers across Canada, and how effective the uptake of the program is at the community level. | 3 yrs 0 mth | https://webapps.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/decisions/p/project_details.html?applId=167488&lang=en |