Promoting Increased Physical Activity in Hospitalised Older Adults

The PIVOT study will explore the feasibility of training volunteers to deliver exercise to hospitalised older adults to improve the health of older people and prevent deconditioning while in hospital. Loss of strength and mobility (i.e., deconditioning) is common in hospitalised older people and is associated with a decline in physical function, poorer quality of life and increased health and care costs. Physical inactivity is an important and modifiable risk factor. A previous study showed it is feasible to train volunteers to engage with older people in hospital and facilitate walking and bedside exercises. The intervention was well-received by older adults, staff members and volunteers. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of implementing volunteer-led physical activity in three hospitals of varying sizes in different regions.

Older adults aged 65 years and above admitted to an acute hospital will be invited to participate in the study. The study aims to recruit 180 participants; 90 from three intervention sites and 90 from a control site. Participants at the intervention sites will receive a twice daily volunteer-led physical activity intervention, and participants at the control site will receive usual care.

Participants who are able to mobilise independently will perform walking exercises and individuals with mobility impairments will perform bedside exercises. The volunteers will be trained and monitored by hospital therapists. The acceptability of the intervention will be explored through interviews with patients, volunteers, and staff. Intervention feasibility will also be examined through measuring retention of trainers, volunteers, and patients on the intervention, and adherence to the exercise.

Study findings will help to determine the feasibility of the volunteer-led physical activity intervention across different sized hospitals, voluntary service teams, and therapy services to explore the implementation and roll out of the intervention across NHS sites and the development of a toolkit to support knowledge transfer.