Potential benefits of environmental volunteering programs of the health of older adults: a pilot study.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr
; 90: 104113, 2020.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32554218
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 ANDMETHODS:
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.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.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.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Força da Mão
/
Equilíbrio Postural
Limite:
Aged
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Arch Gerontol Geriatr
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Taiwan