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Zoomers for All

Status: Completed
Category(s): Increasing Independence, Quality of Life, and Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
Lead organization: University of New Brunswick (UNB)
Principal investigator(s): Dr. Danielle Bouchard
Co-investigator(s): Dr. Martin Sénéchal

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

Knowledge transfer

Zoomers for All 

Zoomers pour tous

État du projet: Terminé
Catégorie: Augmentation de l’autonomie et de la qualité et promotion de modes de vie sains
Organisation responsable : Université du Nouveau-Brunswick (UNB)
Chercheuse principale(s) : Danielle Bouchard
Co-chercheur : Martin Sénéchal

À propos du projet :

Les blessures liées aux chutes chez les personnes âgées peuvent provoquer de sérieux problèmes de santé et alourdir le fardeau du système de soins de santé. L’âge est fortement associé à des chutes. L’activité physique est la stratégie de prévention la plus efficace pour réduire le taux de chute chez les personnes âgées et accroître leur capacité de demeurer autonomes. Zoomers à la carte, maintenant connu sous le nom de Zoomers en équilibre, a offert un programme gratuit d’exercices de prévention des chutes sur 12 semaines à des personnes âgées de toute la province du Nouveau-Brunswick. On a recommandé d’offrir le programme d’exercices dirigé par des pairs trois fois par semaine, 60 minutes par session. Des cours en présentiel et en ligne étaient offerts en français et en anglais. Les responsables du projet ont évalué les changements dans le risque de chute des participants avant et après Zoomers en équilibre. 2815 participants de 68 ans en moyenne, ET= 7,1 ans (2478 femmes, 337 hommes; 2246 anglophones, 562 francophones) des sept zones de santé du Nouveau-Brunswick se sont inscrits au programme.

Conclusions et leçons apprises

  • 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.

Recommandations

  • Focus on increasing accessibility, attracting underserved communities, and improving male enrollments.

Lisez les résultats du projet

Le transfert de connaissances