@article{ref1,
title="Potential benefits of environmental volunteering programs of the health of older adults: a pilot study",
journal="Archives of gerontology and geriatrics",
year="2020",
author="Chen, Jia-Ching and Chang, Qi-Xing and Liang, Chung-Chao and Hsieh, Jyh-Gang and Liu, Peter Pin-Sung and Yen, Chia-Feng and Loh, Ching-Hui",
volume="90",
number="",
pages="e104113-e104113",
abstract="PURPOSE: To study the effects of participating in a 12-week environmental volunteering program on the physical performance of older adults across different age groups MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a pretest-posttest pilot study with a single group. The intervention consisted of twice-weekly recycling activities and once-weekly rehabilitation exercise at community-based care centers. The recycling activities of the environmental volunteering program included sorting and handling paper products, plastics, and metals; disposing electronic products; and sorting clothes. The rehabilitation exercise program comprised a 90-min course for special needs and 30 min of health education. The evaluation tools were the handgrip strength, five-times-sit-to-stand test, sit-and-reach test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and usual and fast gait speeds. <br><br>RESULTS: In total, 45 participants completed the program. After the program, the participants showed significantly great improvements compared to baseline in all outcome measures. We further divided these participants into two age subgroups [65-75 years (n = 31) and >75 years (n = 14)]. The 65-75-year subgroup only showed significant improvements in handgrip strength, TUG and usual gait speed. However, the >75-year subgroup showed significant improvements in all outcome measures. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This innovative environmental volunteering program conducted in a local Taiwanese community can be a sustainable and feasible model to improve physical performance in the participants, the subgroup aged >75 years in particular. It also provides a potential avenue for researchers and policymakers to address environmental and aging-related issues.<br><br>Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0167-4943",
doi="10.1016/j.archger.2020.104113",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2020.104113"
}