title: Personalized citizen assistance for social participation (APIC): A promising intervention for increasing mobility, accomplishment of social activities and frequency of leisure activities in older adults having disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social participation, a determinant of health in older adults, requires innovative interventions. The personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) involves weekly three-hour personalised stimulation sessions targeting significant social and leisure activities difficult to accomplish. Recently adapted for older adults, the APIC's impact on this population is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explored the impact of APIC on older adults with disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-method design including a pre-experimental component was used with 16 participants (11 women) aged 66-91 (79.4±8.7) with disabilities, living at home. They completed functional autonomy, social participation, leisure and quality of life questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  APIC increased older adults' functional autonomy (p=0.02), accomplishment (p<0.01) and satisfaction (p=0.02) with social participation, and frequency of leisure practice (p<0.01). Post-intervention, participants wished to modify the practice (p<0.01) and frequency (p<0.01) of leisure activities, and difficulties in their social environment diminished (p=0.03). Their attitude toward leisure (p=0.04) as well as their health (p<0.01) and psychological (p=0.03) quality of life improved. Older adults thought APIC helped them resume, maintain, explore and experiment with significant social activities. It also increased their psychological and physical well-being, feeling of control, connectedness, self-esteem and motivation to accomplish activities. Finally, APIC can compensate for an unavailable and crumbling social network.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APIC is a promising intervention that leads to new opportunities for older adults to increase community integration and enhance the social component of their lives. It can also optimise how the needs of older adults are met, including utilisation of personal and environmental resources.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services-Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, 1036, Belvedere Street South, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 4C4, Canada; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada. Electronic address: Melanie.Levasseur@USherbrooke.ca.
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal & Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal & Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Levert
authors.affiliation: Research Centre on Aging, Eastern Townships Integrated University Centre for Health & Social Services-Sherbrooke Hospital University Centre, 1036, Belvedere Street South, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 4C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Joanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacasse-Bédard
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke & Research Centre on Aging, Canada.
authors.forename: Johanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desrosiers
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières & Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Therriault
authors.affiliation: Université Laval & Institut sur le Vieillissement et la Participation Sociale des Aînés, Canada.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tourigny
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke & Research Centre on Aging, Canada.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Couturier
authors.affiliation: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières & Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carbonneau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D058992:Social Participation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Community participation; Social activity; Social inclusion; Social integration; Social interaction