Patterns of physical activity among nursing home residents before and during the Covid 19 pandemic-a systematic observation.
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BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
38057739
Description
BACKGROUND
The Covid-19 outbreak in spring of 2020 posed an array of challenges for nursing homes, including promoting resident physical activity (PA). Given the diversity of factors affecting resident PA, we explored how activity patterns outside weekly-scheduled structured activities changed during the pandemic and what factors promoted or inhibited PA during the pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted systematic direct observations over 823.5 h in eight nursing homes in Southern Germany in 2020 and 2021.
RESULTS
In 2020, 84.7% of person observation units were classified as sedentary (average activity level: 1.14 MET). In 2021, the percentage increased to 91.6% of observed person units (average activity level: 1.08 MET) (t = 6.947; p = .000). According to tree classification, influencing factors of PA included mealtime and daytime in 2020 and 2021, as well as presence of men residents only in 2020 and guided low threshold activities in 2021.
CONCLUSIONS
Nursing homes constitute highly sedentary places-an issue exacerbated by access restrictions for external activity experts and significant others as well as behavioural restrictions for residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff could not compensate due to existing time restraints and lack of training in PA promotion. Based on our findings, we recommend future studies to develop feasible and resource-low activities to be integrated into the daily routines of nursing homes.
The Covid-19 outbreak in spring of 2020 posed an array of challenges for nursing homes, including promoting resident physical activity (PA). Given the diversity of factors affecting resident PA, we explored how activity patterns outside weekly-scheduled structured activities changed during the pandemic and what factors promoted or inhibited PA during the pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted systematic direct observations over 823.5 h in eight nursing homes in Southern Germany in 2020 and 2021.
RESULTS
In 2020, 84.7% of person observation units were classified as sedentary (average activity level: 1.14 MET). In 2021, the percentage increased to 91.6% of observed person units (average activity level: 1.08 MET) (t = 6.947; p = .000). According to tree classification, influencing factors of PA included mealtime and daytime in 2020 and 2021, as well as presence of men residents only in 2020 and guided low threshold activities in 2021.
CONCLUSIONS
Nursing homes constitute highly sedentary places-an issue exacerbated by access restrictions for external activity experts and significant others as well as behavioural restrictions for residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff could not compensate due to existing time restraints and lack of training in PA promotion. Based on our findings, we recommend future studies to develop feasible and resource-low activities to be integrated into the daily routines of nursing homes.
Date of Publication
2023-12-06
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & health
300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social services
Keyword(s)
Covid-19 pandemic Long-term care facilities Nursing home Older adults Physical activity patterns
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Hahn, Lea-Sofie | |
Thiel, Ansgar | |
Trüb, Dorothée | |
Eschweiler, Gerhard W | |
Nieß, Andreas M | |
Sudeck, Gorden |
Additional Credits
Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin (ISPM) - Community Health
Series
European review of aging and physical activity
Publisher
Springer
ISSN
1813-7253
Access(Rights)
open.access