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About the project
Fall-related injuries among older adults can lead to serious health consequences and add extra burden to the healthcare system. Age is strongly associated with falls. Physical activity is the most effective prevention strategy for reducing the rate of falls among older adults and increasing their ability to remain independent. Zoomers on the Go, now called Zoomers in Balance, offered a free 12-week fall prevention exercise program to older adults across the province of New Brunswick. The peer-led exercise program was recommended to be offered three times per week for 60 minutes per session. Both in-person and online settings were available in English and French. The project evaluated changes in participants’ risk of falls from before to after Zoomers in Balance. 2815 participants averaging 68 years old, SD= 7.1 years (2478 women, 337 men; 2246 English, 562 French) enrolled in the program from all seven health zones in New Brunswick.
Conclusions and lessons learned
- Overall, the Zoomers in Balance program improved older adults’ physical functioning, which has potential to reduce the risk of falls, ease activities of daily living and increase independence.
- Online program delivery was associated with a higher attendance rate, but also a higher dropout rate, compared to in-person program delivery. More investigation is needed to understand this better.
- The in-person program was better for improving participants’ mental health and health self-perceptions compared to the online program.
Recommendations
Focus on increasing accessibility, attracting underserved communities, and improving male enrollments.
To learn more read the complete project findings (PDF 115 KB)