TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Potential benefits of environmental volunteering programs of the health of older adults: a pilot study
JO  - Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
A1  - Chen, Jia-Ching
A1  - Chang, Qi-Xing
A1  - Liang, Chung-Chao
A1  - Hsieh, Jyh-Gang
A1  - Liu, Peter Pin-Sung
A1  - Yen, Chia-Feng
A1  - Loh, Ching-Hui
SP  - e104113
EP  - e104113
VL  - 90
IS  - 
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0167-4943
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2020.104113
ID  - ref1
ER  -