Assessing Coping Strategies and Outdoor Activities Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Information is lacking on how older adults are coping during the pandemic. We explored coping strategies including outdoor activities among community-dwelling older adults (N = 115) 65 and older (mean age 76.45, 71.3% female). Using conventional content analysis, we analyzed responses to: 1) How are you coping with COVID-19? and 2) How often are you going outside during the pandemic and for what reasons? Most common activities are connecting with family and friends (some in person, others on the phone or virtually), reading, tv, game playing, and learning something new (e.g. webinars, online classes). The majority are going outside every day, with walking being the most common activity. Only a few are restricting their out of home activities to essential tasks (e.g. going to the doctors, pharmacy, getting groceries). Findings suggest that many older adults are engaging in positive coping activities. Assessing coping strategies can give insight into wellbeing.

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Implementation of a Cost-Effective Physical Therapy Approach (Coach2Move) to Improve Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Mobility Problems: Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized, Stepped Wedge Trial

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/pzz183 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 653-661 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ward Heij ◽

Steven Teerenstra ◽

Lieke Sweerts ◽

J Bart Staal ◽

Maria W G Nijhuis-van der Sanden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Stepped Wedge ◽

Cluster Randomized ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Stepped Wedge Trial ◽

Insight Into

Abstract Background Coach2Move is a personalized treatment strategy by physical therapists to elicit physical activity in community-dwelling older adults with mobility problems. Objective The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the implementation of Coach2Move compared with regular care physical therapy in daily clinical practice. Design, Setting, Participants, and Intervention A multicenter cluster-randomized stepped wedge trial is being implemented in 16 physical therapist practices (4 clusters of 4 practices in 4 steps) in the Netherlands. The study aims to include 400 older adults (≥70 years) living independently with mobility problems and/or physically inactive lifestyles. The intervention group receives physical therapy conforming to the Coach2Move strategy; the usual care group receives typical physical therapist care. Measurements Measurements are taken at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of treatment. The primary outcomes for effectiveness are the amount of physical activity (LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test). Trial success can be declared if at least 1 parameter improves while another does not deteriorate. Secondary outcomes are level of frailty (Evaluative Frailty Index for Physical Activity), perceived effect (Global Perceived Effect and Patient Specific Complaints questionnaire), quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L), and health care expenditures. Multilevel linear regression analyses are used to compare the outcomes between treatment groups according to an intention-to-treat approach. Alongside the trial, a mixed-methods process evaluation is performed to understand the outcomes, evaluate therapist fidelity to the strategy, and detect barriers and facilitators in implementation. Limitations An important limitation of the study design is the inability to blind treating therapists to study allocation. Discussion The trial provides insight into the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Coach2Move strategy compared with usual care. The process evaluation provides insight into influencing factors related to outcomes and implementation.

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Self-Selected and Maximal Walking Speeds Provide Greater Insight Into Fall Status Than Walking Speed Reserve Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation ◽

10.1097/phm.0000000000000488 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 95 (7) ◽

pp. 475-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Addie Middleton ◽

George D. Fulk ◽

Troy M. Herter ◽

Michael W. Beets ◽

Jonathan Donley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Walking Speeds ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Insight Into

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Self-Selected Walking Speed Is Predictive of Daily Ambulatory Activity in Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2015-0104 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 214-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Addie Middleton ◽

George D. Fulk ◽

Michael W. Beets ◽

Troy M. Herter ◽

Stacy L. Fritz

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Functional Status ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Activity Monitoring ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Ambulatory Activity ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

Insight Into

Daily ambulatory activity is associated with health and functional status in older adults; however, assessment requires multiple days of activity monitoring. The objective of this study was to determine the relative capabilities of self-selected walking speed (SSWS), maximal walking speed (MWS), and walking speed reserve (WSR) to provide insight into daily ambulatory activity (steps per day) in community-dwelling older adults. Sixty-seven older adults completed testing and activity monitoring (age 80.39 [6.73] years). SSWS (R2 = .51), MWS (R2 = .35), and WSR calculated as a ratio (R2 = .06) were significant predictors of daily ambulatory activity in unadjusted linear regression. Cutpoints for participants achieving < 8,000 steps/day were identified for SSWS (≤ 0.97 m/s, 44.2% sensitivity, 95.7% specificity, 10.28 +LR, 0.58 −LR) and MWS (≤ 1.39 m/s, 60.5% sensitivity, 78.3% specificity, 2.79 +LR, 0.50 −LR). SSWS may be a feasible proxy for assessing and monitoring daily ambulatory activity in older adults.

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