Improving Mobility and Confidence in Care Home Residents

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A Psychological Intervention to Improve Mobility and Confidence in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities

• IRAS ID

  151151

• Contact name

  Gillian O'Neill

• Contact email

  gilliano'neill@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Dundee

• Research summary

  Falls in older adults are a significant public health concern, affecting over one third of community-dwelling older adults and half of residents living in care homes each year (Masud & Morris, 2001). Falls can result in physical injuries, social isolation, depression and loss of confidence (Moylan & Binder, 2007).

  Loss of confidence may also result from concerns about falling, which may develop into a fear of falling, further increasing one’s risk of falling (Tennstedt et al., 1998). Individuals with low confidence display cautious behaviour and have a low perceived ability to successfully avoid falling (low falls self-efficacy). This is associated with activity avoidance, social isolation, anxiety, loss of independence and functional decline (Lamb et al., 2005; Lach, 2013). Fear of falling affects over half of community-dwelling older adults but its impact is likely to be greater in care home residents (Lach, 2013; Zijlstra et al., 2007).

  Intervention studies that have directly aimed to reduce concerns about falling have used a cognitive-behavioural approach (Graham, 2013; Zijlstra et al., 2009). This approach was successful in reducing concerns about falling and increasing activities of daily living in community-dwelling older adults. However no study to date has used a cognitive behavioural approach to reduce concerns about falling and their consequences in older adults living in care homes.

  The aim of the current study is to pilot a group-based cognitive behavioural intervention for older adult care home residents. It will aim to increase residents’ confidence in their mobility by reducing perceived caution experienced when performing activities, and by improving falls self-efficacy. It will also aim to improve residents’ mobility. The intervention will involve the delivery of four 2-hour sessions comprising an educational component, group discussions and the practice of light strength and balance exercises as well as relaxation techniques.

• REC name

  East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1

• REC reference

  14/ES/1021

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Jun 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion