Evaluation of a mobility device as an assistive device to maintain and/or enhance mobility in older adults.

The intervention will evaluate the efficacy of a mobility device for use by older Australian adults living in aged care to improve mobility, from the perspective of the user and the aged care organisation. The mobility device to be used in the trial is one that is used in America, that has not yet penetrated Australia, Asia or Europe, with four wheels, a seat and a frame to the side and front that enables the users to sit and propel themselves along, or stand and walk. A RCT approach will be used to evaluate the effect and cost effectiveness of the mobility device with residents in an SA aged care organisation and will include an evaluation of the mobility device using a randomised control design measuring standard functional, movement behaviour and quality of life with validated assessment tools (to be assessed at baseline and following 12 weeks' use). Physiotherapists in the aged care organisations will identify residents who could benefit from mobility exercise. These residents will be invited to participate in the trial. The participants that are randomised into the intervention group will participate in a 6-week block of mobility sessions with a health professional at the aged care organisation. Sessions will be delivered one-on-one, scheduled once per week for 20-30 minutes (depending on each individual’s capacity). An exercise program has been developed but will be modified as necessary depending on each individual’s capacity (i.e. less repetitions if fatigue occurs). An example of the exercises to be conducted with the mobility device include: • Seated warm-up exercises, including 10 repetitions of shoulder rolls and holding chin to chest stretches for up to 20 seconds • Seated leg-strength exercises, including 10 repetitions of leg raises, and 10 repetitions of heel raises • Seated arm strength exercises, including 10 repetitions of bicep curls • 10 repetitions of sit to stand exercises • Standing balancing exercises, 10 repetitions of toe taps while holding onto the mobility device Participants in the randomised group have access to the mobility device for approximately 10-30 minutes during their sessions with the health professional but will depend on each individual’s capacity. Participants will be monitored closely during the sessions. Compliance and use of the device will be recorded by staff using an exercise recording sheet. After the first 6-week block, suitable exercise recommendations will be made for each participant, tailored to their own capacity. The exercise recommendations will be taken from exercises in the exercise program, examples of which may include: • Seated warm-up exercises, including 10 repetitions of shoulder rolls and holding chin to chest stretches for up to 20 seconds • Seated leg-strength exercises, including 10 repetitions of leg raises, and 10 repetitions of heel raises • Seated arm strength exercises, including 10 repetitions of bicep curls • 10 repetitions of sit to stand exercises • Standing balancing exercises, 10 repetitions of toe taps while holding onto the mobility device The participants will be encouraged to undertake these for the 6 weeks, for approximately 20-30 minutes every second day, during which time the intervention group will have access to the mobility device for up to an allocated 1 hour per day. Use of the mobility device will be monitored and recorded by staff on an exercise recording sheet. Exercise physiologists at the aged care facilities will complete assessments to measure mobility before and after the intervention.