Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Older adults who are frail spend ~60% of their awake time in sedentary behaviours. Sedentary behaviour includes sitting, reclining, or lying while using very little energy. Long periods of sedentary behaviour may decrease mobility and quality of life. Low mobility increases the risk of falls and early death. There are no effective interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults. All studies in older adults have attempted to decrease total sedentary time; however, results from my work suggest not all behaviours have the same effect on muscle health (e.g., reading vs watching TV). Moreover, underrepresented groups view the tools to measure sedentary behaviour with mistrust and distrust. I also found seasonal and gender variations in sitting time and behaviour. Using a three-study design, the proposed project aims to co-produce a lifestyle intervention to decrease certain types of sedentary behaviours associated with falls in older adults who are frail. Study 1: We will conduct a scoping review to identify tools to assess types of sedentary behaviours from engineering and industry databases. Study 2: We will assemble a group of researchers, stakeholders, and diverse patient partners to rank feasible tools identified in Study 1. The tools should be feasible to assess types of sedentary behaviours in a diverse cohort across a continuum of care (i.e., home care, retirement, and long term care). Study 3: We will pilot the highest ranked tools and then hold focus groups with participants to understand what behaviours they are willing to modify and how the behaviours can be modified. We will also assemble an expert panel of stakeholders to establish a consensus on an intervention. The proposed project will identify a co-produced intervention to reduce or break up certain types of sedentary behaviours. The long-term goal will be to pilot the intervention to determine if the intervention reduces sedentary behaviour and falls among older adults who are frail.