Citation

Zidén L, Häggblom-Kronlöf G, Gustafsson S, Lundin-Olsson L, Dahlin-Ivanoff S. Gerontologist 2014; 54(3): 387-397.

Affiliation

*Address correspondence to Lena Zidén, Institute of neuroscience and physiology/physiotherapy, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 455, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. E-mail: lena.ziden@vgregion.se.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/geront/gnt078

PMID

23906550

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of 2 different health-promoting interventions on physical performance, fear of falling, and physical activity at 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups of the study Elderly Persons in the Risk Zone. DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized, three-armed, single-blind, and controlled study in which 459 independent and community-dwelling people aged 80 years or older were included. A single preventive home visit including health-promoting information and advice and 4 weekly senior group meetings focused on health strategies and peer learning, with a follow-up home visit, were compared with control. Functional balance, walking speed, fear of falling, falls efficacy, and frequency of physical activities were measured 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after baseline. RESULTS: There were no or limited differences between the groups at the 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. At 2 years, the odds ratio for having a total score of 48 or more on the Berg Balance scale compared with control was 1.75 (confidence interval 1.09-2.83) for a preventive home visit and 1.87 (confidence interval 1.16-3.02) for the senior meetings. A significantly larger proportion of intervention participants than controls maintained walking speed and reported higher falls efficacy. At 1 and 2 years, a significantly higher proportion of intervention participants performed regular physical activities than control. IMPLICATIONS: Both a preventive home visit and senior meetings reduced the deterioration in functional balance, walking speed, and falls efficacy after 2 years. The long-term effects of both interventions indicate a positive impact on postponement of physical frailty among independent older people.

Language: en