Providing Rural Veterans With Access to Exercise Through Gerofit

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Telehealth
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Older veterans often face geographical barriers to accessing healthcare and specialized training programs.
• Remote locations can limit opportunities for consistent participation in physical activity interventions.
• Functional circuit exercise training is beneficial for maintaining mobility and health in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering functional circuit exercise training via clinical video telehealth.
• To evaluate the impact of this telehealth intervention on older veterans in remote settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized clinical video telehealth platforms to conduct supervised functional circuit exercise training sessions.
• Recruited older veterans residing in remote geographical locations.
• Monitored participant engagement and adherence to the exercise program.

Main Results:

• Clinical video telehealth successfully facilitated the delivery of functional circuit exercise training.
• Older veterans in remote locations were able to participate effectively in the telehealth-delivered program.
• The intervention demonstrated potential for improving functional fitness in the target population.

Conclusions:

• Clinical video telehealth is a viable method for providing functional circuit exercise training to older veterans in remote areas.
• Telehealth interventions can overcome geographical barriers, enhancing access to health and wellness programs.
• This approach supports the health and well-being of aging veteran populations regardless of location.