Project 459772

Many Canadian adults fall every year. The consequences can be catastrophic for older adults, including being hospitalized for long periods and moving to a long-term care facility. In some cases, falls can even result in death. Of all strategies, regular exercise is the best approach to prevent falls in older adults. Even if many exercise programs are offered to older adults, long-term plans and funding towards programs that truly reduce the risk of falls are rare in many Canadian communities. Consequently, there is a need to implement exercise programs that do not solely rely on short-term funding but benefit from partnerships with existing community resources. When such community partnerships are formed, it ensures that programs can continue. In New Brunswick, Zoomers on the Go, a community exercise program that specifically targets a reduction in the risk of falls for people age 50+ years, has shown promising results. Through this 12-week program, we have demonstrated that participants improve their physical abilities (e.g., strength, speed, balance), making them more functional and reducing their risk of falls. Importantly, this program is delivered at no cost to the participant, is provided by a volunteer peer, and is supported by local resources. Due to the success of this program and the resources required, it could be implemented across Canada. The Healthy Cites Implementation Studies Team Grant will be used to: 1) Extend the offering of Zoomers on the Go to Canadian municipalities from all provinces, and 2) Understand the elements that make this program a success. All Canadian adults can benefit from regular exercises, such as a reduction in the risk of falling. Although it is clear that regular exercise leads to a reduction in falls, there is a lack of long-term programs available across the country that were proven to truly reduce the risk of falls.