Frailty Prevention in Elders From Reunion Island

Frail Elderly Syndrome, Physical Activity

In Reunion Island, people encounter environmental and social conditions leading to premature ageing and subsequent frailty. Social welfare has developped exercise programs to promote physical activity especially for elderly with higher risk factors of frailty, including low incomes. The study evaluates the potent benefit effect of such exercise program on physical performance and frailty improvement in seniors from Reunion Island. All seniors participate to a 12-weeks exercise program especially dedicated to this targeted population needs and ability.

Regular physical activity has been shown to slow down sarcopenia, and increase strengh in elders. Nevertheless, senior with low incomes do not usually have access to physical activity areas. Social partners are in close relationship with these elders and could promote free exercise programs dedicated to elders classified as GIR5-6 according to the French scale AGIRR. The AGIRR scale takes into account several criteria allowing the evaluation of the level of autonomy. The level of autonomy is closely related to frailty and could be reversed since elders have not reach a dependant-state. The GIR5-6 level means that elderly people are still not dependant but exhibit several frailty risk factors. The level of frailty and the physical performance of the participants is assessed by standard geriatric evaluation before the 12-wks exercice program. The improvement of the physical performance is assessed after he 12-wks exercice program.

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