CONNECT 60+: A Wellness Program for Older Adults Delivered From a Community Hub

Background: Community hubs offer a pragmatic approach to address the wellness needs for older adults at risk of social isolation and declining physical activity. Objective: The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a wellness program delivered from a community hub (either in person or online) on exercise and social connections of community-dwelling older adults living in Australia during a time of social isolation imposed by COVID-19. Methods: A single group pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted online and in person from a community hub. The 9-week program (CONNECT60+) was designed using a community-based participatory approach. It consisted of weekly group exercises led by a health professional and a wellness activity that aligned with active ageing guidelines, such as education, book club, and nature walks. Participants were encouraged to complete daily wellness activities and record these in a workbook. Data were gathered at pretest and 10-week post-test using questionnaires. Results: A total of 47 participants completed the program. Most participants were aged between 64 and 74 years (61.7%), and 82.9% were female. Thirty-five participants (74.5%) attended the program in person, and 12 (25.5%) attended online from home. Preliminary findings showed participants prioritized social connections during the week and increased the duration (median [interquartile range] minutes) of exercise completed per week (pretest: 285 minutes (inter quartile range, 246-567 minutes); post-test: 346 minutes (interquartile range, 150-415 minutes); P < .01). Conclusions: The study endorsed the wellness program delivered in person and online from a community hub to enable older adults to complete wellness activities, including exercise and socially connecting during a time of self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a wellness program delivered from a community hub to address the wellness needs of older adults at risk of social isolation and declining physical activity. The findings showed that the program helped older adults increase their exercise duration and prioritize social connections.