10.6084/m9.figshare.6004499.v1
Marc Jutras
Marc
Jutras
Justin Lambert
Justin
Lambert
Jiyoung Hwang
Jiyoung
Hwang
Lisa Wang
Lisa
Wang
Shane Simon
Shane
Simon
Talia Del Medico
Talia
Del Medico
Paul Mick
Paul
Mick
Harry Miller
Harry
Miller
Donna Kurtz
Donna
Kurtz
Mary-Ann Murphy
Mary-Ann
Murphy
Charlotte Ann Jones
Charlotte Ann
Jones
Targeting the psychosocial and functional fitness challenges of older adults with hearing loss: a participatory approach to adaptation of the walk and talk for your life program
Taylor & Francis Group
2018
Functional fitness
older adults
participatory
exercise
programme
2018-03-20 11:29:43
Journal contribution
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Targeting_the_psychosocial_and_functional_fitness_challenges_of_older_adults_with_hearing_loss_a_participatory_approach_to_adaptation_of_the_walk_and_talk_for_your_life_program/6004499
<p><i>Objective</i>: Explore the acceptability of a socialisation, health education and falls prevention programme (Walk and Talk for Your Life: WTL) as an adjunct to group auditory rehabilitation (GAR) and how it might be adapted for older adults with hearing loss (HL). <i>Design</i>: Content theme analysis (CTA) of guided interviews explored the experience of HL, the acceptability of a WTL programme and suggestions on how to adapt the WTL programme to better suit the needs of older adults with HL. <i>Study sample</i>: Twenty-eight (20 women, 8 men) adults (>55 years of age) with HL were interviewed. Seventeen had participated in past WTL programmes and eleven were sampled from the community. <i>Results</i>: Interviewees reported difficulty socialising and a tendency to withdraw from social interactions. Addition of GAR to a WTL programme was found to be highly acceptable. Interviewees suggested that to best suit their needs, sessions should take place in a location with optimal acoustics; include small groups integrating hearing-impaired and hearing-intact participants; include appropriate speaking ground rules; and include an option for partner involvement. <i>Conclusions</i>: The adapted WTL programme provides a holistic and unique approach to the treatment of HL that has the potential to positively impact the hearing-impaired elderly.</p>