17 Apr Physical Activity Including Housework Linked To Better Physical and Emotional Aging
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Kathy Wright, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, PMHCNS-BC
KL2 Postdoc, Clinical Instructor 2011-13 SAMHSA Scholar
2010-12 National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
Patricia G. Archbold Scholar
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio
MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Wright: This study was a secondary analysis of baseline data from the After Discharge Care Management of Low Income Frail Elderly (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality grant #1 R01 HS014539-01A1). The participants were aged 65 and older enrolled during an acute care hospitalization. Each participant had at least one deficit in activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing) or two deficits in instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., transportation, paying bills). The purpose of the study was to test House’s Conceptual Framework for Understanding Social Inequalities in Health and Aging in Medicare-Medicaid enrollees in a group of low-income older adults to determine the relationships between socio-demographic factors (i.e., race, education, age, gender, income, and neighborhood poverty), health behaviors, and physical function and emotional well-being. As a part of the health behavior component, participants were interviewed and asked questions regarding the amount of physical activity they engaged in during the week.
MedicalResearch: What are the main findings?
Dr. Wright: Race, neighborhood poverty, education, and income did not influence physical function or emotional well-being in this sample of older adults. Even in a group of low-income older adults with an average of 9 chronic conditions, there was a significant relationship between engaging in physical activity such as housework and their perceived function and emotional well-being.
MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Wright: Despite the challenges of multiple chronic illnesses, coach your patients to set goals to engage in physical activity.
MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Wright: Future research should include use of technological devices to test person-centered interventions to promote physical activity in homebound older adults.
Citation:
Factors that Influence physical function and emotional well-being among Medicare-Medicaid enrollees
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MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, & Kathy Wright, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, PMHCNS-BC (2015). Physical Activity Including Housework Linked To Better Physical and Emotional Aging
Last Updated on April 17, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD