Lifestyle Intervention in Independent Living Aged Care

This will be a 6 month trial with ethical approval for future follow-up assessments over the longer term. The present trial will consist of 208 persons 60-90 years of age, living independently or supported accommodation within an aged care facility. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of four conditions: Group 1 : Diet change to reflect a greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet Group 2 : Exercise change to walk up to 30 minutes every second day Group 3 : Combined diet and exercise change Group 4 : Control group with no diet or exercise change Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three interventions or to a control group with no lifestyle change. Diet: The diet has been created by a dietician and clearly outlined in a healthier living booklet that the dietician has prepared for this trial. The administration of the diet will be by the participants.Those allocated to the diet change group will be required to score their diet in relation to a Mediterranean diet sheet and achieve at least an 85% adherence to the diet. Instruction on how to self assess the diet sheets and further internal programs of guidance with the participants will be given to participants to inform them of food choices via a specifically designed Mediterranean Healthier living diet recipe booklet. Participants will cook for themselves and be issued with recipes and meal ideas. Each person in the diet change group will be allocated 6 X 750ml bottles of premium extra virgin olive oil for the study ( allowing for an average usage of 46ml/day). An ongoing interaction with the participants will take place at 6 weeks (10-20 min telephone call)after the initiation of the trial by a member of the research team and then again at the 3 month (20-30 min face-to-face discussion) intervention and then again at 4.5 months ( 10-20 min telephone call) to ensure their adherence to the diet guide and also to ensure their enthusiasm and participation is maintained. Those allocated to the exercise group will be required to walk 35 to 40 mins four to five days per week as their aerobic exercise. An ongoing interaction with the participants will take place at 6 weeks after the initiation of the trial by a member of the research team and then again at the 3 month intervention and then again at 4.5 months to ensure their maintaining the walking programme and also to ensure their enthusiasm and participation is maintained. Walking does not require supervision or training. A guidance document prepared will be given to the participants with a pedometer to measure steps and distance covered during the walk. Combined exercise and diet: Participants allocated to the exercise and diet change group will be required to walk 35 to 40 mins four to five days per week and will follow the procedure outlined in the diet condition i.e. achieve at least an 85% adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Each person in this group will also be allocated 6 X 750ml bottles of premium extra virgin olive oil for the study.An ongoing interaction with the participants will take place at 6 weeks after the initiation of the trial by a member of the research team and then again at the 3 month intervention and then again at 4.5 months to ensure their adherence to the diet guide and walking program to ensure their enthusiasm and participation is maintained. The non intervention group will also receive ongoing interaction at 6 weeks after the initiation of the trial by a member of the research team and then again at the 3 month intervention and then again at 4.5 months to ensure their enthusiasm and participation is maintained.