LIFE - Living well through Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise

Evidence-level

Effective (About evidence-level criteria)

Description

The LIFE – Living well through Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise Program began as a research project through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to address the issue of physical inactivity in rural-residing older Iowans.

The LIFE Program was created to give rural-residing older Iowans an opportunity to become more physically active through a holistic wellness program that addressed physical, emotional, social, and intellectual wellness. The program's two phases – the program pilot test (LIFE 1) and the Extension-delivered evaluation (LIFE 2) – were funded through the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

LIFE 1 took place in 2011-2012 and included 46 participants, with 18 students from Iowa State University aiding as trainers. LIFE 2 took place in 2012-2014 and included 277 participants with 79 younger adults statewide.

Services offered

This program implemented low-impact, moderate-level exercises largely through "exergaming" — exercise combined with video games. Kinect Sports games (and previously a Wii gaming system) was used along with interactive games in order to facilitate physical activity.

Participants needed to be at least 60 years old, and teens or young adults served as trainers. This program was an opportunity for multigenerational experience and friendships and allowed the trainers to formulate more accurate perceptions of the aging population. This program also gave opportunities for socialization among participants and was beneficial for those who didn't have access to gyms or weren't informed on how to exercise safely.

Results

From 2011 to 2021:

• About 25 rural Iowa counties offered the LIFE Program.
• Over 340 older adults enrolled in the LIFE Program.
• Over 100 younger adults served as LIFE Program trainers.

The LIFE Program was shown to increase physical activity participation and perceived wellness, functional fitness, and well-being in older adults. It was also shown to reduce ageism and increase knowledge and expectations about aging among younger adults.

In September 2019, the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Adult Development and Aging Workgroup (ADAW) named the LIFE Program as one of eight programs "that exemplify strong outcomes."

For more in-depth information on program results:

Sowle, A.J., Francis, S.L., Margrett, J.A., Shelley, M.C., & Franke, W.D. (2017). A Community-Based Exergaming Physical Activity Program Improves Readiness-to-Change and Self-Efficacy among Rural-Residing Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 25(3), 432-437. Article Abstract

Francis, S.L., Margrett, J.A., Hoerr, K., Peterson, M.J., Scott, A., & Franke, W.D. (2014). Intergenerational Service Learning Program Improves Aging Knowledge and Expectations and Reduces Ageism in Younger Adults. Journal of Youth Development, 9(3). Article Abstract

Strand, K.A., Francis, S.L., Margrett, J.A., Franke, W.D., & Peterson, M.J. (2014). Community-Based Exergaming Program Increases Physical Activity and Perceived Wellness in Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 22(3), 364-371. Article Abstract

Challenges

For LIFE 2, Extension specialists provided feedback regarding the challenges to implementing the LIFE Program. The main challenge was recruiting participants and trainers, and another major barrier was scheduling. The Extension specialists who were most successful worked with retirement communities that allowed non-residents to participate as well. The most successful strategy for recruiting trainers involved working with the local high school to allow time off for students. In LIFE 2, some schools offered physical education credits as an independent study to allow time for students to participate.