Translating Strong for Life Into the Community Care Program: Lessons Learned

• Published in: Journal of applied gerontology Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 553 - 569
• Main Authors: Danilovich, Margaret K., Hughes, Susan L., Corcos, Daniel M., Marquez, David X., Eisenstein, Amy R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-05-2017; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Client satisfaction; Clinical trials; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Exercise Therapy; Female; Home Care Services - standards; Home Health Aides - education; Home health care; Humans; Intervention; Job satisfaction; Male; Medicaid; Medicaid - economics; Middle Aged; Older people; Participation; Resistance; Resistance Training; United States; United States; strength training; exercise; home care aides; waiver program; home- and community-based services
• ISSN: 0733-4648; 1552-4523
• DOI: 10.1177/0733464815625833

We used a randomized controlled trial to test the implementation of Strong for Life (SFL), a resistance exercise intervention, using 32 home care aides (HCAs) as exercise leaders with their 42 homebound older adult clients enrolled in the Community Care Program, a Medicaid 1915(c) waiver program. Mixed-methods were used to analyze outcomes of program satisfaction rates, training session evaluations, program fidelity, and job descriptive index scores. Results indicate that it is feasible for HCAs to implement SFL safely with clients. Participants viewed SFL as highly satisfactory and HCAs were able to adapt SFL for their clients. HCAs have high job satisfaction, and leading SFL enhances work achievement and pride. Our results show it is possible to train HCAs to implement SFL with their clients in addition to providing usual care services, participation positively affects both care partners, and this is a feasible and practical delivery model to provide exercise for adults receiving home- and community-based services.