Exploring the Attendance and Potential Benefits of Reducing Sitting Time for Residents in a Canadian Long-Term Care Setting: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the attendance to a novel intervention aiming to reduce sitting time in a long-term care facility and exploring the potential functional benefits. Methods: The intervention consisted of research staff visiting a resident to promote standing for 10-minute sessions, three times per day (morning, afternoon and evening), 4 days per week (Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Sunday) over 10 weeks. The main outcome was attendance. Functional outcomes included walking speed, power, and strength. Results: A total of 28 participants agree to participate and 24 completed the trial. The average attendance averaged four sessions per week and averaged 45 minutes of standing weekly out of 120 minutes offered. Attendance was highest during the morning session ( p = .02) and weekdays ( p < .01). There was a significant improvement in the 30-second chair stand test ( p < .05). Conclusion: Although well accepted, the attendance was low. Based on the information gathered suggestions can be made to improve the intervention, attendance, and potential benefits of such intervention.

The Effect of a Standing Intervention on Falls in Long Term Care: a Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…(23) This suggests that residents of LTC facilities with a higher functional capacity might benefit from this type of intervention. Our findings contradict the conclusions made from a standing pilot study with the same population by Lee et al (7) where it was concluded that a standing intervention might be more beneficial among LTC residents who are frailer and need assistance to transfer as they have less standing exposure.…”

“…( 5 , 6 ) Only a few studies have examined the impact of reducing sedentary behaviour on the risk of falls among older adults living in a LTC facility. As previously reported by our group, people living in LTC facilities spend over 90% of their time engaging in sedentary behavior, ( 7 ) which may provide a window of opportunity for fall prevention interventions in this population.…”

“…Our group conducted a pilot trial that explored how many residents in LTC settings would attend an organized standing intervention. (7) This pilot demonstrated that supervised standing sessions were safe and feasible in a LTC setting. However, falls outside of the supervised standing sessions were not studied, which warrants further observation.…”