Exercise for depression in elderly residents of care homes: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depression is common and is associated with poor outcomes among elderly care-home residents. Exercise is a promising low-risk intervention for depression in this population. We tested the hypothesis that a moderate intensity exercise programme would reduce the burden of depressive symptoms in residents of care homes.

Methods

We did a cluster-randomised controlled trial in care homes in two regions in England; northeast London, and Coventry and Warwickshire. Residents aged 65 years or older were eligible for inclusion. A statistician independent of the study randomised each home (1 to 1·5 ratio, stratified by location, minimised by type of home provider [local authority, voluntary, private and care home, private and nursing home] and size of home [<32 or ≥32 reside

SUBMITTER: Underwood M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3919159 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature