Abstract
Background
Older community-living disabled people often have unmet activity needs and participation restrictions potentially reducing their quality of life (QoL).
Aims
We examined the effects of an individualized out-of-home activity intervention delivered by volunteers on QoL among community-living older people, who have difficulty accessing the outdoors independently.
Methods
Volunteering, Access to Outdoor Activities and Wellbeing in Older People (VOW; ISRCTN56847832) was a two-arm randomized single-blinded, controlled effectiveness trial (RCT) in Jyväskylä, Finland. The inclusion criteria were: age 65 or over, severe mobility limitation, able to communicate, and agree to participate in a RCT. Each intervention group member was assigned a trained volunteer with whom out-of-home activities were done once a week for 3 months (e.g., running errands or recreational activities). The primary outcome was the environmental subscore of QoL assessed with WHOQOL-BREF. Secondary outcomes were the overall QoL, physical capacity, psychological well-being, and social relationships assessed with WHOQOL_BREF and lower-extremity performance assessed with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
Results
121 people aged 67–92 years (mean age 81.9 years, SD 5.9, 90 % women) were randomized. No treatment effect on the environmental QoL subscore was observed, but for physical capacity subscore a significant treatment effect was observed (General Linear Model, Group by Time p = 0.001). No effects were observed for the other QoL subscores or for SPPB score.
Discussion
This study suggests that individualized out-of-home activity intervention delivered by volunteers may influence the QoL of old severely mobility-limited community-living people in a positive way.
Conclusion
Further studies are needed to better understand how to improve QoL of older disabled community-living people and potentially buffer them against more severe care needs and institutionalization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Seeman TE, Merkin SS, Crimmins EM, Karlamangla AS (2010) Disability trends among older Americans: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1988–1994 and 1999–2004. Am J Public Health 1:100–107
Johnson KJ, Mutchler JE (2014) The emergence of a positive gerontology: from disengagement to social involvement. Gerontologist 54:93–100
Rantakokko M, Portegijs E, Viljanen A, Iwarsson S, Rantanen T (2013) Life-space mobility and quality of life in community-dwelling older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 61:1830–1832
Portegijs E, Rantakokko M, Mikkola TA, Viljanen A, Rantanen T (2014) Physical performance and sense of autonomy in outdoor activities were associated with life-space mobility in community-dwelling older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 62:615–621
International Classification of Functioning (2001) Disability and health. World Health Organization, Geneva
WHOQOL Group (1998) The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment: development and general psychometric properties. Soc Sci Med 46:1569–1585
Satariano WA, Guralnik JM, Jackson RJ, Marottoli RA, Phelan BEA, Prohaska TR (2012) Mobility and aging: new directions for public health action. Am J Public Health 102:1508–1515
Baker PS, Bodner EV, Allman RM (2003) Measuring life-space mobility in community-dwelling older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 51:1610–1614
Casado BL, van Vulpen KS, Davis SL (2011) Unmet needs for home and community-based services among frail older Americans and their caregivers. J Aging Health 23:529–553
Seaman PM (2012) Time for my life now: early Boomer women’s anticipation of volunteering in retirement. Gerontologist 52:245–254
Rennemark M, Lindwall M, Halling A, Berglund J (2009) Relationships between physical activity and perceived qualities of life in old age. Results of the SNAC study. Aging Ment Health 13:1–8
von Bonsdorff MB, Rantanen T (2011) Benefits of formal voluntary work among older people. A review. Aging Clin Exp Res 23:162–169
Hooker SP, Seavey W, Weidmer CE, Harvey DJ, Stewart AL, Gillis DE, Nicholl KL, King AC (2005) The California active aging community grant program: translating science into practice to promote physical activity in older adults. Ann Behav Med 29:155–165
Health Quality Ontario (2008) Social isolation in community-dwelling seniors: an evidence-based analysis. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser 8:1–49
Salminen AL, Brandt Å, Samuelsson K, Töytäri O, Malmivaara A (2009) Mobility devices to promote activity and participation a systematic review. J Rehabil Med 41:697–706
Hank K, Stuck S (2008) Volunteer work, informal help, and care among the 50 + in Europe: further evidence for ‘linked’ productive activities at older ages. Soc Sci Res 37:1280–1291
Fried LP, Freedman M, Endres TE, Wasik B (1994) Building communities that promote successful aging (Review). West J Med 167:216–219
Lin MR, Wolf SL, Hwang HF, Gong SY, Chen CY (2007) A randomized, controlled trial of fall prevention programs and quality of life in older fallers. J Am Geriatr Soc 55:499–506
Skevington SM, Lotfy M, O’Connell KA (2004) The World Health Organization’s WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment: psychometric properties and results of the international field trial. A Report from the WHOQOL Group. Qual Life Res 13:299–310
Vaarama M, Tiit E-M (2008) Quality of life of older homecare clients. In: Vaarama M, Pieper R, Sixsmith A (eds) Care-related quality of life in old age. Concepts, models and empirical findings. Springer, New York, pp 168–195
Guralnik JM, Simonsick EM, Ferrucci L, Glynn RJ, Berkman LF, Blazer DG, Scherr PA, Wallace RB (1994) A short physical performance battery assessing lower extremity function: association with self-reported disability and prediction of mortality and nursing home admission. J Gerontol 49:M85–M94
Mänty M, Heinonen A, Leinonen R, Törmakangas T, Sakari-Rantala R, Hirvensalo M, von Bonsdorff MB, Rantanen T (2007) Construct and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of preclinical mobility limitation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:1108–1113
Tiikkainen P, Heikkinen RL (2005) Associations between loneliness, depressive symptoms and perceived togetherness in older people. Aging Ment Health 9:526–534
Subramanian SV, Huijts T, Avendano M (2010) Self-reported health assessments in the 2002 world health survey: How do they correlate with education? Bull World Health Organ 88:131–138
Bandura A (1977) Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev 84:191–215
Rantakokko M, Mänty M, Iwarsson S, Törmäkangas T, Leinonen R, Heikkinen E, Rantanen T (2009) Fear of moving outdoors and development of outdoor walking difficulty in older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 57:634–640
Korpela KM, Ylen M, Tyrväinen L, Silvennoinen H (2010) Favorite green, waterside and urban environments, restorative experiences and perceived health in Finland. Health Prom Int 25:200–209
Chen YM, Thompson EA (2010) Understanding factors that influence success of home- and community-based services in keeping older adults in community settings. J Aging Health 22:267–291
Acknowledgments
We thank Markku Kauppinen for his statistical support and contribution to data management. The project was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland and the Finnish Slot Machine Association. Gerontology Research Center is a joint effort between University of Jyväskylä and University of Tampere.
Conflict of interest
On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rantanen, T., Äyräväinen, I., Eronen, J. et al. The effect of an outdoor activities' intervention delivered by older volunteers on the quality of life of older people with severe mobility limitations: a randomized controlled trial. Aging Clin Exp Res 27, 161–169 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0254-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0254-7