Feasibility of an online, mental health-informed lifestyle program for people aged 60+years during the COVID-19 pandemic

Issue addressed The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing regulations have disproportionally impacted the health of older adults. Lifestyle interventions targeting physical activity, diet and fostering social connection may help to alleviate the potential negative health consequences. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of delivering an online group lifestyle intervention for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Adults aged 60+, living in Australia were recruited to a single-arm feasibility study of a 6-week program delivered via a private Facebook group between June-August 2020. Facilitators provided motivation and education on weekly topics including goal setting and reducing sedentary behaviour in the form of Facebook posts and group video calls. Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability and secondary outcomes included psychological distress, quality of life (AQoL-6D), functioning, loneliness and physical activity (PA) with assessments conducted at baseline, post-intervention and 4-week follow-up. Results N = 11 participants were recruited and n = 10 (91%) completed the post-assessment questionnaires. High acceptability was observed and exploratory analysis from pre-post intervention found evidence of an effect on secondary outcomes. Conclusions A mental health informed lifestyle program delivered online via Facebook appears feasible and well-accepted among older adults and may help to prevent some of the consequences of inactivity and social isolation associated with the pandemic. So what? Online lifestyle interventions appear safe and may provide a scalable, cost-effective strategy for protecting the physical and mental health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.