Ireland has an increasing ageing population, creating the need for more integrated health and social care
services. Physical activity programmes have been shown to improve older adults’ functional capacity and reduce
falls, enabling the older adult to live independently and maintain functional status. To date, there has been a lack
of quality research conducted around physical activity within the landscape of home care services. This study
will examine the feasibility of implementing the Care to Move (CTM) programme within a population of older
adults receiving low-level home support. The study will utilise a mixed methods approach. This will include a
Phase 1 feasibility study design to explore the impact of the CTM programme on older adults and thematic
analysis of data collected from older people and home care workers and relevant stakeholders through use of
semi-structured interviews and focus groups. We will measure functional status and fall outcomes in older adults
receiving low levels of home support, facilitating this population to continue living independently at home and
providing data currently not known around this population group. Other implications include a move towards
more sustainable forms of service provision and cost savings in terms of long-term residential care, hospital
admissions and extensive home help packages.
