Using a Model of Reciprocal Mentorship to Develop, Implement, and Sustain a Group-Based Exercise Program for the Frail Elderly

Abstract

It is widely recognized that exercise programs for frail elders are essential to combat the effects of chronic disease while also preserving function. Staffing shortages of both professionals and paraprofessionals in long-term care limit opportunities for program development and sustainability. The purpose of this article is to describe a model that used reciprocal mentorship in order to develop, implement, and sustain a group-based exercise program for frail elders using physical therapy (PT) students, a direct care provider (DCP), and a physical therapist/educator. Unique to this design was the opportunity for reciprocal mentorship between the students and the DCP designated to the program. Students taught the DCP the exercise protocols and the DCP modeled how to successfully interact and manage the frail elders. The physical therapist/educator concurrently provided leadership to both groups. Positive changes in the both the TUG and POMA were noted with the most significant change occurring in the POMA (p = 0.03). The program has transitioned from student-led to DCP-led program that has been sustained for more than a year.

KEYWORDS:

• Frail elderly
• inactivity
• exercise
• reciprocal mentorship

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carol A. Maritz

Jennifer R. Johnson was a graduate student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX at the time of this study. She is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, LA

Debra Stewart is Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University and staff therapist at Erinoak Centre, Missis-sauga, Ontario. She is currently completing a MSc (Design, Measurement and Evaluation) at McMaster University.

Ronald L. Mace (deceased, June 29, 1998) was also affiliated with The Center for Universal Design, School of Design, North Carolina University.

Lois Rosage and Geraldine Shaw are Occupational Therapist Consultants who provide evaluations for the housing programs at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.

Debbie Rand is Occupational Therapist, Beit Rivka Geriatric Rehabilitation Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel. She completed this study in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her mailing address is 50 Heh B'Eyar Street, Apartment 5, Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel, 48056.

Maureen McKenna is a Licensed Physical Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Her Current position is: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Wheeling Jesuit University, 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003.

Heather Lambert was funded in part by a Health Canada NHRDP Fellowship, a REPAR Fellowship, a doctoral bursary from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Quebec, and a Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation-Royal Canadian Legion Fellowship in Gerontology.

Trish Wielandt was supported by a University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UQPRS).

Dr. Leigh Tooth was supported by a NHMRC Fellowship (#997032) while some of this research was undertaken.

J. D. “Herb” Herbert is Occupational Therapist, Rocky Mountain Menders LLC, 363 Pioneer Road, Lyons, CO 80540. At the time of this study, he was a graduate student, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.