ActivAge
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a Physical Activity Programme for Older People with Severe Mental Illness
IRAS ID
359539
Contact name
Bethan Hickey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to improve our understanding of the physical activity needs in older people who are inpatients on mental health wards. From this, we aim to develop a physical activity intervention for older people with severe mental illness in inpatient mental health units. People living with severe mental illness (SMI) have reduced life expectancy compared to the general population known as the “stolen years”. Much of this disparity is due to physical health problems, particularly higher rates of cardiovascular disease. The SMI population is ageing, and many are now living with high levels of physical health problems and a high burden of medications. Moreover, older people with SMI have higher rates of falls, physical and cognitive impairments, and social needs than younger people. Older people with SMI can also be inpatients for very long periods and their ability to access physical health interventions and activity programmes is extremely limited. Therefore, interventions need to be tailored specifically to older people rather than using interventions designed for younger people. In recent interviews, older people in inpatient mental health units felt that better, more targeted physical activity programmes are needed to address these inequalities, but also to prevent deconditioning and reduce falls. We will address this problem by determining the physical activity needs experienced by older people who are in-patients at a mental health trust. We will interview patients, their carers, and staff members to understand their views on current physical activity interventions for older people on mental health wards. We will then review these findings in a series of co-design workshops with patients, carers, and staff to develop recommendations for the development of a physical activity intervention for older in patients with severe mental illness which will undergo acceptability testing.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0369
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion