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Exercise and social activity improve everyday function in long-term care residents
Rebecca A Lorenz1, Nalaka Gooneratne, Catherine S Cole
1School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Summary
High-intensity exercise and social activities significantly improved daily function in long-term care residents. This combined approach, known as ESA, enhanced everyday activities independently of sleep quality changes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Long-term care (LTC) residents often experience functional decline.
- Maintaining everyday function is crucial for quality of life in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of high-intensity resistance strength training and walking (E), individualized social activity (SA), and a combination (ESA) on LTC residents' everyday function.
- To investigate the relationship between changes in everyday function and sleep patterns.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 119 LTC residents.
- Interventions included exercise (E), social activity (SA), combined exercise and social activity (ESA), and usual care (UC).
- Everyday function was measured using the Nursing Home Physical Performance Test; sleep was assessed via polysomnography.
Main Results:
- The exercise (E) and combined (ESA) groups showed improvements in everyday function, while the social activity (SA) and usual care (UC) groups declined.
- The ESA group demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared to both SA and UC groups.
- No significant correlation was found between improvements in everyday function and changes in sleep quality.
Conclusions:
- A 7-week program of high-intensity resistance strength training and walking combined with social activities (ESA) effectively improved everyday function in LTC residents.
- The benefits to everyday function were observed independently of any changes in sleep patterns.
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