Ask
As frailty and susceptibility to falls affects an individual’s physical activity beliefs and behaviours, focusing on this can be a useful way to introduce the topic
As frailty and susceptibility to falls affects an individual’s physical activity beliefs and behaviours, focusing on this can be a useful way to introduce the topic
Ask permission to talk about either ‘physical activity’ or ‘something that can make a big difference to your future health and wellbeing’
Spending a moment to set the scene and asking permission can open a constructive person-centred conversation around behaviour change. This keeps the individual actively engaged in the conversation and decision making.
How has their condition affected their physical activity levels and the things they enjoy?
Supporting behaviour change is hard work! This resource is designed to help you navigate this challenging task.
Most people are ambivalent about, rather than resistant to, increasing their physical activity levels. There are pros and cons to both maintaining the same physical activity levels as well as increasing them. Your challenge is to help an individual to consider and share their own ‘pros’ for increasing their physical activity levels and help them to develop these ideas into a workable plan that fits into their life.
Try to understand the individuals own perspective, agenda and priorities and do not assume they:[1]
Learning skills such as motivational interviewing can help you avoid common pitfalls that sometimes make conversations about behaviour change unrewarding and ineffective.
References
What do they know about the benefits of physical activity in people susceptible to falls and frailty?
As an individual is more likely to change if they can personally identify with the ‘pros’ for change, help them to identify how they might benefit from being more active. Find out what they know first so that you can add to their existing understanding by sharing some of the wide-ranging benefits of being more active.
Rather than focusing on frailty and falls risk it is better to start by stressing the benefits of improved strength, balance and aerobic fitness
A recent rapid review by Public Health England for UK CMOs review of physical activity guidelines emphasises the importance of regular strength and balance activities throughout the life course.
This document highlights the three key transition points of benefit from regular strength and balance activities. At age 18-24 bone and muscle gains are maximised; from 40-50 years strength and balance activities slow the natural decline; finally from 65 years onward activity helps maintain independence and operate above key functional thresholds.
Reference
Department of Health. Start Active , Stay Active: a report on physical activity from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers. London: 2011.
Public Health England. Muscle and bone strengthening and balance activities for general health benefits: in adults and older adults. PHE publication gateway reference: 2018207. July 2018
Skelton DA, Mavroeidi A (2018) How do muscle and bone strengthening and balance activities (MBSBA) vary across the life course and are there particular ages where MBSBA are important. Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia and Falls 3(2): 74-84
Older adults should aim to be active daily, in bouts of at least 10 minutes and total at least 150 minutes per week.
Deconditioning from inactivity can start a vicious cycle:learn how to break it