Barriers and Facilitators for engagement in long term home exercises

Introduction: The benefits of physical activity to maintain independence into older age are well understood, but the challenge for health professionals is ensuring interventions are sustainable. The East Sussex Community Falls Team uses a multifactorial assessment with emphasis on strength and balance exercises to improve quality of life and reduce risk of falls. A considerable number of clients who had received strength and balance exercises were re-referred with falls and declining mobility within 2 years. Engagement with previously provided exercises had ceased. The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve client engagement with long term physical activity and to reduce re-referral rates.

Method: Barriers to exercise engagement were explored and participant’s primary goals identified. A shared decision-making conversation enabled provision of tailored activities focusing on strength and balance.

Results: A combination of quantitative and qualitative data was obtained which demonstrated a positive client journey within the time limit on the project.

Conclusion: Health Professionals need to adopt a collaborative approach to increase the older person’s autonomy, promote sustainability and reduce the burden on health and social care services.