Eva-BeTa – Evaluation Active Day Care
Day care facilities, as part of semi-inpatient services for people in need of care, are playing an increasingly important role within healthcare provision. In addition to relieving family carers, the prevention of social isolation and the creation of daily structure and care are central reasons for using day care services (Berger et al. 2023).
So far, only a few intervention studies have focused on day care facilities aiming at maintaining specific abilities or independence in general. It is expected that attending day care may encourage physical activity and support independence in people requiring care (Cruel et al. 2022). However, why, under which conditions, and what exactly should be offered to achieve this goal remain largely unclear.
Preventing or delaying admission to long-term residential care through targeted interventions is generally desirable. On the one hand, it corresponds to the wishes of most older people, who prefer to remain living at home even when they require care (Hajek et al. 2018). On the other hand, if residential care becomes necessary, this entails significant financial burdens for the individuals concerned and for society as a whole.
Physical activity – including mobility, motor skills and the associated potential for (partly) independent living – is an important marker in assessing the risk of admission to residential care (Steinbeisser et al. 2022). Limitations in motor skills are not inevitably irreversible in old age. They can be at least partially restored, and further deterioration can often be delayed for a time (ZQP 2018). Accordingly, maintaining motor skills may help to enable a longer stay in one’s own home.
Research question
The previous project (IKK-PEP) was a modular concept to promote mobility among day care attendees. It was developed and implemented in cooperation with several facilities. The aim was to delay admission to long-term residential care. Therefore a multi-component intervention was developed, tested for feasibility, and subsequently adapted. However, a scientific evaluation regarding effectiveness has not yet been carried out.:
Research questions:
- Can the mobility status of day care attendees be maintained or even improved through the implementation of specific exercise programmes (training strength, balance, coordination and endurance)?
- Can general health be strengthened leading to fewer hospitalisations and an increase in health-related quality of life?
- Can cognitive abilities and (partly) independent living be maintained or improved?
- Can nutritional and muscle status be maintained or improved through the programme?
- Can the individual concept components contribute to enable day care attendees to remain at home for a longer period of time?
To address these questions, a cluster-randomised study is planned, in close cooperation with IKK Classic. The modular concept of “Active Day Care”, which can be adapted to the specific conditions of the participating facilities, forms the intervention.
Primary endpoint: Admission to long-term residential care (time-to-event).
Secondary endpoints: Mobility status, cognition, quality of life, hospitalisation, risk of malnutrition/handgrip strength, independent living.
Project lead: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Wolke
Academic staff members: Bianca Berger, Fabian Graeb
Funding period: 01.03.2025 bis 28.02.2028
Funded by: IKK Classic
Interested? Apply now! for the wintersemester 2026/2027
Get started
find a course