Community-based Physical and Social Activity for Older Adults with Mild Frailty: a Rapid Qualitative Study of a Collaborative Intervention Pilot

Background: Intervening to modify frailty trajectories may be critical to maintain health and independence in later life. The Active Ageing Programme (AAP) is a 16-week community-based intervention for older people with mild frailty that combines physical activity and social interaction. The programme aims to positively impact resilience and wellbeing, changing the physical, mental and social factors that impact on frailty trajectories. We conducted a rapid qualitative study with the first cohort to understand the acceptability and feasibility of the AAP.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to identify and recruit staff and participants involved in the AAP for semi-structured interviews. The topic guides covered experiences and perceptions of training and referral, delivery and participation in activities, and benefits and challenges. Data from 20 interviews were analysed using a reflexive thematic approach with inductive coding. The Theoretical Domains Framework prompted consideration of potential individual, social and environmental factors influencing changes in behaviour and practice.

Results: Sixteen AAP staff (10) and participants (6) completed interviews. Two themes were developed: combining motivating components; addressing what matters. The AAP brought together a number of components that supported its acceptability and successful implementation by motivating older people and staff and sustaining their engagement. These included the convenient and familiar location, the opportunity to improve physical health (participants) and to gain experience of an activity intervention, training and confidence (staff), and the variety of activities on offer. The programme was perceived to have potential to improve physical and mental health and increase the personal resources (e.g. knowledge, confidence, motivation) of those taking part. Areas identified as important for the AAP's future sustainability and success were: tailoring recruitment practices; enhancing organisational communication; and strengthening support for participants to achieve long-term increased physical and social activity and resilience.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that community-based physical and social activity interventions targeting frailty may be acceptable, feasible and useful. Further work is needed to investigate the impact of such programmes on health and service utilisation. Efforts should be targeted at improving the potential for long-term sustainability of programmes and their impacts.