Title:

A multi-centre randomised controlled trial of a peer-volunteer led active ageing programme to prevent decline in physical function in older people at risk of mobility disability: the ACE (Active, Connected, Engaged) study

Leads:

Lead – Professor Afroditi Stathi; ARC lead Professor Kate Jolly

Dates:

01/09/2021 – 29/03/2025

Background:

Approximately 38% of people aged over 70 are at increased risk of mobility-related disability. In the UK’s ageing population this generates major individual and societal challenges, including reduced quality of life, loss of independence, reduced productivity amongst carers and increased health and social care costs. Interventions that can prevent decline in physical functioning would therefore have great public health value. In older people, modest changes in physical activity can prevent the onset of mobility-related disability. Using peer-volunteers to support engagement in physical activity by at-risk older people has the potential to prevent decline in physical function at relatively low cost. However, such programmes have not been robustly evaluated.

Policy and Practice Partners:

Royal Voluntary Service; Public Health England

Co-Funding partners:

Royal Voluntary Service

Aims and Objectives:

What is the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ACE intervention compared with an information-only control group for preventing decline in lower limb physical function in community-dwelling older people at risk of mobility disability?

Methods:

Two-arm individually randomised controlled trial with an internal pilot study; process evaluation and economic evaluation.

Participants: 515 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or more, at risk of mobility disability

and 150 peer volunteers. Intervention: a series of peer volunteer meetings with participants and telephone support to take part in local activities of interest that may involve a physical activity or muscle-strengthening component. Control arm: written information on healthy ageing and invitation to one meeting at 12 months.

Main Results:

Study commences Sep 2021

Conclusions:

TBC.