Project LIFE: a partnership to increase physical activity in elders with multiple chronic illnesses

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Physical activity is crucial for older adults' health and well-being.
• Primary care settings offer opportunities to promote healthy behaviors in aging populations.
• Effective interventions are needed to support physical activity in elderly veterans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a collaborative model involving patients, primary care providers, and exercise health counselors.
• To assess the impact of high-intensity physical activity counseling compared to attention control and usual care on physical activity levels in older veterans.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial was conducted with 165 veterans aged 70 years and older.
• Participants received standardized clinic-based counseling, followed by high-intensity counseling, attention control counseling, or usual care.
• Physical activity frequency and caloric expenditure were measured at 3 and 6 months.

Main Results:

• A significant Group x Time interaction was observed for physical activity frequency (p = .041) and caloric expenditure (p = .054).
• High-intensity counseling and usual care groups showed short-term increases in physical activity.
• The usual care group's physical activity returned to baseline by 6 months, while the intervention group maintained gains.

Conclusions:

• Partnering primary care providers with specialized exercise counselors is an effective strategy for promoting age- and health-appropriate physical activity.
• The intervention demonstrated feasibility and positive reception from both practitioners and patients.
• This collaborative approach can help improve long-term physical activity adherence in older adults.