In ConnectFit we facilitate older adults’ engagement in exercise, particularly resistance training t

Description

Resistance training can be an effective way for older adults to improve bone health, mobility, muscle mass, strength, and mental health. It can be performed at low or high intensities, meaning it can cater to a vast range of abilities. The ConnectFit project aims to engage older adults’ in exercise and physical activity through community-based resistance training programmes in the Carlow area. The project is an initiative between Carlow Sports Partnership; Deborah Foley, and two PhD researchers in SETU Carlow; Conor Dowling and Lawrence King. In the three years of ConnectFit, we have engaged more than 300 older people in our community, through our programmes. Many of our participants have continued resistance training having completed ConnectFit.

Our first project began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic necessitated that our older adults cocoon, research emerged that sedentary behaviour was increasing. We designed ConnectFit to address the core need of keeping older adults active while simultaneously facilitating the need for social inclusion. In our first programme, we aimed to look at two different models of remotely delivering a 10-week community-based resistance training programme, a video-call group who would exercise via zoom, an unsupervised group who were provided with booklets and online support and a control group who we played online games with. Both exercise groups trained twice per week, were provided with weights and followed the same programme. We had 90 older people from the Carlow area taking part. We found that video-call delivery of a community-based exercise programme may improve physical function and have greater engagement than an unsupervised home-based programme. We ran focus groups with our participants after this project, they found resistance training enjoyable and beneficial. Those in the unsupervised group said that they enjoyed the freedom to exercise when they wanted while those in the vide-call group liked the structure the classes gave to their days during a period of cocooning from COVID-19.

With the success of the first project and a clear appetite from the older adults’ of Carlow for community-based resistance training programmes we decided to continue with our work. We aimed to assess the effects of different methods of delivering community-based resistance training programmes during a non-pandemic time. We ran a 12-week resistance training programme. Participants were randomised into one of 4 groups: face-to-face delivery of group RT sessions; video-call delivery of group training (VC); semi-supervised RT with one group session and one unsupervised home session and a non-exercise control group. Participants who were in an exercise group followed the same resistance training programme, trained twice per week and participants who needed weights at home had them provided. The findings from this project indicate that all 4 delivery methods can be effective to improve physical function but that face-to-face delivery may be the most engaging. Qualitatively, the participants who attended face to face classes expressed that the social interaction they received from the instructors and their peers, when in class was a strong motivator to return and thus adhere to the programme.

Consistently in our previous projects, the role of peers appeared to shape the experience and engagement of our participants. People loved coming to the classes for the friends they had made, the chance to chat and have fun enhanced their engagement with the programme. Research indicates that peers can positively influence a person’s confidence in doing new tasks and learning. Our current project is an investigation into the effects of peer-delivery of a 10-week community-based resistance training programme on the physical and psychological functioning of community-dwelling older adults. For this project, we have older adults from the community who have a minimum of 1 years resistance training experience and have completed a peer-preparation course, delivering the exercise programme to groups of other older people. We have another group being instructed by the two lead researchers, Conor and Lawrence, and a control group. We are coming to the end of this project, we currently have 98 older people involved in this programme and are excited to see what our results will tell us. Anecdotally, our peers have loved the experience so far and hope to stay involved in the community in a leadership capacity.

Our aim will always be for our participants to look forward to the training sessions and to see exercise as something they can integrate into their lives with ease. We hope the ConnectFit project can inspire other communities around Ireland to follow suit and enhance access to exercise and resistance training for older adults.

Aim of Initiative

To engage older adults in our community in resistance training and exercise through programmes which enhance the participant experience.

Who is it aimed at

Community-dwelling older adults. Our inclusion criteria requires our participants to be able to have the time to train twice per week and walk independently. We use the American College of Sports Medicine Risk Stratification chart to identify individuals who may be at risk of a cardiac event during exercise. These people are required to have GP clearance prior to commencing the project.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Planning: As the project was part of two PhD level projects and would involve such large numbers the programmes had to be meticulously planned. Both parties, SETU Carlow and Carlow LSP put a lot of hours in the planning and coordination of each step of the project. While this may have sometimes slowed down the initial beginning of the project it meant that all aspects of the project were thought of and accounted for.
2. Logistics: With large recruitment numbers we had to ensure that once people signed up they weren’t lost to any delays or breakdowns in the running of the programme. We ensured that each stage of the project was ready by the beginning so that the transition from start to finish was smooth for all involved.
3. Community engagement: Through the Connect Fit project we’ve engaged nearly 300 older people in the Carlow area in exercise. Many of whom continue exercising long after the programme has finished. We’ve brought large groups of people together in a capacity that has facilitated social inclusion and engagement across a diverse mix of social backgrounds.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Recruitment: Ensuring that we have an adequate sample for our projects can be sometimes challenging. However, through engagement with various older adults groups and community partners we have built great recruitment pathways.
2. Equipment: Brexit impacted on our access to weights, a key components of any resistance training project, luckily we received our order eventually and got things up and running soon after.
3. Access: We had some participants who may not have had internet access or a car. We try our best to facilitate these participants through finding them a programme which suits their needs best.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Community engagement: Through the Connect Fit project we’ve engaged nearly 300 older people in the Carlow area in exercise. Many of whom continue exercising long after the programme has finished. We’ve brought large groups of people together in a capacity that has facilitated social inclusion and engagement across a diverse mix of social backgrounds.
2. Contribution to research: This project is being ran as part of two PhD projects and has extended knowledge in the area of how to deliver exercise and resistance to older adults.
3. Awareness: Locally within Carlow we have raised awareness of the benefits of physical activity and exercise to a wide range of not only older adults but also key stakeholders within the community such as GP’s, healthcare providers, sports teams and businesses.