Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Over 1.2 million Canadians aged 65 and older face balance and walking difficulties that affect their daily activities. Exercise programs involving practicing everyday movements, like sit-to-stand, stepping, and walking, can improve balance and walking. Despite this, programs delivered in community centres may be inaccessible to older adults with balance and walking limitations due to a lack of transportation, inclement weather, and inadequate accessibility to buildings. To bridge this gap, researchers are exploring virtual exercise programs that can be done from home. What remains unclear is how to ensure equitable access and inclusivity in virtual programs. This research project aims to fill the knowledge gap by conducting three studies to inform the design and delivery of a virtual exercise program called TIME at Home. The first study involves a review of the literature on home-based virtual exercise programs for adults with mobility limitations, including understanding the effects of these programs and how considerations of equity, diversity, and inclusion are taken into account. The second study focuses on creating an online educational module for TIME at Home facilitators to provide guidance on fostering an inclusive environment during group interactions. The third study will evaluate the impact of this educational module on TIME at Home social interaction sessions, aiming to understand how the module influences facilitators and participants and whether it enhances inclusivity during virtual exercise sessions. The ultimate goal of this research is to improve the design and delivery of virtual exercise programs for older adults with mobility limitations, especially for individuals from underrepresented groups, like persons living with disabilities, visible minority and racialized groups, and LGBTQIA2S+. By making these programs more accessible and inclusive, we can positively impact the health and well-being of a larger portion of our aging population.