Pragmatic Evaluation of a Low-Threshold Sports Program for Older Adults in Group Homes

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) reduces with older age, ill health, and disability. For these groups, guidance recognizes the benefit of small increases in PA and low-intensity PA. This study evaluated a low-threshold intervention that addressed known barriers to older people’s participation in PA in residential care and sheltered housing. Ten, competitive sport sessions were delivered by coaches at 49 sites with the aim that they be sustained in-house. Using quasi-experimental methods, participants reported reduced sitting time, increased moderate/vigorous PA, increased participation in sports and improved scores for both health quality of life and fear of falling at 6 months. The program engaged 29% of residents and was sustained at 50% of sites at 8 months. The findings suggest that low-threshold sports programs that overcome known barriers to older people’s participation in PA have the potential to provide a gateway to increased PA in group homes and to be sustained in-house.