Enhancing Independence Using Group-based Community Interventions for Healthy AGing in Elders: the ENGAGE Pilot Study

Older adults who lose their mobility experience a poorer quality of life, are less likely to
remain independent in the community and have higher rates of chronic disease, falls and
mortality. Recent results from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE)
study demonstrated that a structured program of physical activity (PA) reduced the onset of
major mobility disability in at-risk older adults by up to 28% over a 2.6 year period.
Despite the public health significance of this study, to-date no study has attempted to
translate LIFE PA to broader populations of at-risk older adults in community-based settings.
To address this knowledge gap, and to aid the design of a larger pragmatic trial of LIFE PA
in community-based settings, the investigators conducted the ENhancing independence using
Group-based community interventions for healthy AGing in Elders (ENGAGE) pilot study. The
investigators examined the safety and feasibility of translating LIFE PA into the existing
infrastructure of a community-based senior center. The investigators also explored the
preliminary real-world effectiveness of PA on physical performance and several other
important health related outcomes for older persons, including cognitive function, quality of
life, depressive symptoms and frequency of falling.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Males and Females age ≥ 65 and ≤89 years

- Community dwelling

- Short Physical Performance Battery ≤ 9

- No participation in a structured physical activity program within the previous 3
months

- Willingness to be randomized and participate for 24 weeks

- Written permission from primary care physician

- Having obtained his/her informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- Acute or terminal illness

- Modified Mini-Mental State Examination Score <80(<76 if African American)*

- Myocardial Infarction in the previous 6 months

- Symptomatic coronary artery disease

- Upper or lower extremity fracture in the previous 6 months

- Resting blood pressure >180/100 mmHg

- Unable to communicate due to severe hearing loss or speech disorder

- Severe visual impairment that may preclude participation in the study assessments or
interventions

- Non-English speaking