Trial of a Preventive Care Program Conducted in a Community Bolstered by Its Elderly Members

Abstract

We examined the effect and practicality of a preventive care program (including physical, psychological, and cognitive exercises) conducted to utilize the regional power of the elderly.

The participants used the “A-CYOKIN-KYOUSHITU.” The preventive care program developed to be conducted at home is called the “IKI-IKI TAISOU PROGRAM.” The participants engaged in physical exercise, song time, and tea time activities once a week in the “A-CYOKIN-KYOUSHITU.” The cognitive, physical, and psychological function of 32 participants measured using the Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS), handgrip strength and 30-second one-leg standing with vision, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), respectively, were appraised and compared before and after the preventive care program. The participants’ the physical functions stayed the same after the intervention.

The HDS score improved after the intervention from 27.9 ± 2.9 to 28.6 ± 2.4 (P = .02). The physical and cognitive exercises were performed by 87% of the participants. Further, the preventive care program “IKI-IKI TAISOU PROGRAM” can be conducted at home by the elderly.

We found that the “IKI-IKI TAISOU PROGRAM” can help to improve cognitive functions and maintain physical functions among the elderly. It is important to foster and use the strength that the elderly provide to their community.