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About the project
Physical activity plays an important role in healthy aging. Increased levels of physical activity contribute to better quality of life and improved health outcomes. However, residents in long-term care (LTC) settings often face challenges to participating in regular exercise or social activities. These challenges include lack of motivation and long periods of time spent sitting or lying down. This program introduced a new exercise technology, known as 2RaceWithMe (2RWM), to encourage increased physical activity by older adults in LTC and community settings. 2RWM combines hand and foot pedals, used together or separately, with a library of interactive travel videos. Pedalling is synchronized to the video so that users must keep pedalling in order to continue watching.
In addition to higher levels of physical activity, use of the 2RWM was also expected to result in increased mental stimulation and more social engagement for older adult users.
The project was conducted across two different phases. Phase 1 included individuals residing in LTC, independent living, and semi-independent living units, while Phase 2 targeted more independently mobile older adults from assisted living and adult day programs. Participants’ personal and health information was collected before and after each phase to assess exercise trends and compare health and social engagement outcomes.
- Phase 1 included 32 older adult residents (ages 55 to 99 years; 21 females and 11 males; 10 Anglophones and 22 Francophones) at two LTC facilities (Faubourg du Mascaret [FdM] and York Care Centre [YCC]). Participants’ 2RWM usage was tracked for six months.
- Phase 2 included nine older adults (4 females and 5 males), all of whom were Anglophone, at one facility (YCC). The project tracked participants’ use of the 2RWM for eight weeks.
Conclusions and lessons learned
- Older adults indicated that they enjoyed using the 2RWM. However, participant absences, technical issues, facility outbreaks, and the level/availability of assistance from the project team impacted levels of device usage over the project duration. Additional research is needed to assess the full impact of the device on users’ physical and mental health outcomes.
- Ongoing organizational support (from senior leadership, department leads, unit coordinators, activity directors, unit staff, volunteers, and students) and continued support from the 2RWM Customer Service Team is critical to integrate new technologies into regular practice within the LTC context.
Recommendations
- Conduct further research over a longer duration on the impacts of the 2WRM. This research should include the use of a control group and a range of device options for older adults.
- Share training materials and implementation guidance to help organizations determine if new technologies align with existing programs, policies, staffing capacity, and financial resources.
To learn more read the complete project findings (PDF 142 KB)