title: Effectiveness of a lifestyle exercise program for older people receiving a restorative home care service: study protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Restorative home care services help older people maximise their independence using a multi-dimensional approach. They usually include an exercise program designed to improve the older person's strength, balance and function. The types of programs currently offered require allocation of time during the day to complete specific exercises. This is not how the majority of home care clients prefer to be active and may be one of the reasons that few older people do the exercises regularly and continue the exercises post discharge.This paper describes the study protocol to test whether a Lifestyle Functional Exercise (LiFE) program: 1) is undertaken more often; 2) is more likely to be continued over the longer term; and, 3) will result in greater functional gains compared to a standard exercise program for older people receiving a restorative home care service.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  A pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) design was employed with two study arms: LiFE program (intervention) and the current exercise program (control).
  
  
  METHODS
  Silver Chain, a health and community care organisation in Perth, Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty restorative home care clients, aged 65 years and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome is a composite measure incorporating balance, strength and mobility. Other outcome measures include: physical functioning, falls efficacy, and levels of disability and functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If LiFE is more effective than the current exercise program, the evidence will be presented to the service management accompanied by the recommendation that it be adopted as the generic exercise program to be used within the restorative home care service.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611000788976.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. E.Burton@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Elissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.forename: Lindy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clemson
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boldy
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D053580:Muscle Strength; D004856:Postural Balance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014904:Western Australia