Study 14
EMBOLDEN Trial: Partnering with Older Adults and Communities to Develop and Test a Community-Based Program to Enhance Physical and Community Mobility in Older Adults
Getting out socially and moving about physically can help maintain independence and quality of life for adults 55 years of age and older. Community programs designed to support these activities may be highly effective, but many older adults face barriers accessing them. Co-design is an approach that engages target populations and other stakeholders with researchers. The aim is to co-design new programs that align with and leverage existing community programs, address service gaps, and meet community needs that will be evaluated through research. Experiences of older adults and community service providers are critical partners in this work.
The overall goal of the EMBOLDEN research program is to promote physical and community mobility of older adults who experience difficulties participating in community programs and reside in communities of high health inequity. Building on existing best practices and local evidence, researchers together with local older adults and community service providers will co-design an innovative community-based program to promote mobility amongst community-dwelling older adults.
Following the co-design of the intervention, the study (a pragmatic mixed methods randomized controlled trial) will evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the EMBOLDEN program. Evidence of feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of the program will provide a foundation to assess the potential to sustain the program and test it in other communities. The EMBOLDEN research program is an interdisciplinary research initiative of the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and draws on the expertise of several Faculties and academic units.
Funders:
McMaster Institute for Research on Aging, Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging
Study Partners:
Hamilton Public Health, Hamilton Public Library, Age Friendly Hamilton, CityHousing Hamilton, United Way Halton & Hamilton, City of Hamilton, Hamilton Council on Aging, YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford
Study Infographics:
The infographics below provide an overview of some of key characteristics of the City of Hamilton and specific neighbourhoods within Hamilton. They were developed as a tool for sharing with our study partners (e.g., health and social service providers, citizens) as we move forward with co-designing the EMBOLDEN research program.
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Rebecca Ganann
Assistant Professor School of Nursing, Co-Investigator ACHRU
McMaster University
School of Nursing -
Stuart Phillips
Director Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE)
McMaster University
Department of Kinesiology -
Courtney Kennedy
Associate Scientific Director, GERAS Centre
McMaster University
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine -
Bruce Newbold
Director
McMaster University
School of Geography & Earth Sciences -
Elizabeth Alvarez
Assistant Professor
McMaster University
Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact -
Sarah Neil-Sztramko
Postdoctoral Fellow
McMaster University
School of Nursing -
Ruta Valaitis
Dorothy C. Hall Chair in Primary Health Care Nursing
McMaster University
School of Nursing -
Ayse Kuspinar
Assistant Professor
McMaster University
School of Rehabilitation Science
- Diana Sherifali
- James Gillett
- Marla Beauchamp
- Julia Abelson
- George Ioannidis
- Terry Flynn
- Pasquelina Santaguida
- Chris Verschoor
- Gina Agarwal
- Maureen Markle-Reid
- Meridith Griffin
- Carol Bassim
- Parminder Raina
- Lehana Thabane
- Heather Keller
- Kathryn Fisher
- Ivo Vassilev
- Caroline Moore
- Samantha Horvath
- Giulia Coletta
- Davneet Sihota
- Amy Wang
- Abbira Nadarajah
- Kylie Teggart
- Elizabeth Orr
- Mainka Tandon