Lifelong Maintenance and Increases in Reading Engagement Is Associated With Better Cognitive Health

Abstract

Return to Everyday Activities in the Community and Home (REACH) is a lifestyle intervention model for middle-aged and older adults. The goal of REACH is to reduce sedentary behaviour, increase physical activity, and increase adoption of strength and balance exercises. In this feasibility study we completed a formative evaluation to assess the effectiveness, impact and reception of the REACH instructor training course. Our aim was to summarise perceptions of the model and identify gaps in curriculum delivery. The REACH Instructor training course occurred over four sessions, each of two hour duration. The training methods included didactic and participatory elements, plus a comprehensive instructors' manual and handouts. The participants were provided with foundational knowledge, including principles of behaviour change theory. Participants also practiced teaching components of the program to their peers. We conducted semi-structured interviews at the end of the training session, and administered a Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P) and session feedback forms. There were three participants who completed the study; all were community-based exercise physiologists with an average of 17 (8) years of experience. Emerging themes from participants' feedback included: credentials required, how to best prepare instructors for teaching REACH, the ideal learning setting and linking the instructor manual to presentation slides. The PEMAT-P scores for the instructor manual were 98 (0.03) % for understandability, and 100% for actionability. Each session was rated very good or excellent for presentation style and overall rating. We applied participant feedback to the existing instructor curriculum. ASSOCIATION OF SELF-RATED HEALTH IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY PEOPLE OF JAPANJapan is known for its population longevity, however, people should be aware that longevity with health is better than a longer life in bad health. This study made analysis of socio-economic backgrounds, sleep, depression, chronic disease, long-term care and lifestyle factors related to self-rated health (SRH) in community-dwelling elderly people in Japan.Cross-sectional research of community-dwelling elderly people was carried out in Mibu-town in Eastern Japan in 2015. 665 residents aged over 60 years old, participated in the study and completed a questionnaire. The results from SRH using a four-step scale were later categorized into two groups "Good and Poor" Health. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with "Good" SRH.The average age of the participants was 71.3 years old (SD 6.5, range 60-98). 50.2% of those were female and 84.5% of them answered that they were healthy. The characteristics of "Good" in SRH were non long-term care, a feeling of satisfaction with life, nondepression, without cardiovascular or orthopedic disorders, without medication, having a regular exercise regime and keeping an active lifestyle.People subjectively felt that "Good" for their SRH was closely rela...