Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life and Functional Fitness With Exercise Training in Older Adults Who Attend Senior Centers

Changing behavior in senior housing residents: testing of phase I of the PRAISEDD-2 intervention

PURPOSE

Programs focused on health related behaviors implemented in senior centers, senior housing or churches have not been strongly successful in showing significant improvement in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention behaviors or important clinical outcomes such as decreasing blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to consider the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of phase I of the PRAISEDD-2 intervention. PRAISEDD-2 was implemented to increase physical activity, adherence to heart healthy diets and antihypertensive and/or lipid lowering medications.

METHOD

This was a single site pre post intervention trial. The 12 week phase I activities included education, motivational interventions and exercise classes two times per week implemented by a lay trainer and nurse.

RESULTS

A total of 29 residents were recruited from a single senior housing facility. The majority was Black or African American, female and had at least a high school education. The average age of participants was 74 years of age. At the end of phase I, participants had stronger outcome expectations for exercise, decreased fat and salt intake and decreased pain. There was a non-significant improvement in time spent in physical activity and distance walked in 6 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Phase I of the PRAISEDD-2 intervention was feasible based on adherence to study design, training of the interventionists, delivery and receipt, and there was some support for efficacy across some study outcomes.

Generational differences in Japanese Americans' preferred senior service environments

Japanese American social service agencies and senior centers were created during the 1970s based on the needs of the first (Japanese-speaking) and second (bilingual) generations of Japanese Americans. In 2011, the oldest baby boomers turned 65. Acculturated, English-speaking Japanese American baby boomers may have different preferences about types of services and activities. This study compared the preferences of 230 Japanese American baby boomers and 183 seniors regarding ethnic-specific and nonethnic-specific social service and senior center environments. Despite acculturation, the baby boomers preferred the mixed service environment that included both Japanese-specific and nonethnic-specific activities, suggesting the importance of maintaining Japanese culture.