To promote adherence to two interventions to prevent falls in older people with visual impairment

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 193

Inclusion Criteria

Vision related inclusion criteria:
1. Binocular visual acuity less than 0.6 LogMAR (Snellen equivalent 6/24), stratified into (i) 0.61.0 LogMAR(1.0 LogMar = Snellens 6/60), (ii) less than 1.0 LogMAR and/or
2. Moderate visual field loss, defined as affecting more than 20% of the test location used in a binocular Estermann
test, stratified into (i) those missing 2050%
of the test locations, (ii) those missing >50% of the test locations.

Other inclusion criteria:
1. Aged 75 years and over
2. Independent community dwelling
3. Able to walk around their own residence
4. Cognitively able to participate in the programme
5. Able to understand the study requirements

Carers
To have a relative or friend who is 75 years or older and with a visual impairment and to have the baility to able to communicate in a group

Peer mentors
Planned inclusion/exclusion criteria for peer mentors:
1. Peer mentors must be physically active
2. 65 or older
3. Cognitively intact
4. Willing to have CRB/Disclosure
5. Willing to engage with 35 patients with visual impairment
6. Undertake home visits throughout ten months
7. They must be volunteers who live locally
8. Willing to travel to people's homes
9. Willing to be trained using the Senior Peer Mentor Physical Activity Programme for Older People.

Occupational therapists
Planned inclusion criteria:
1. To have experience of working with older patients with visual impairments
2. Be willing to go under a CRB check and to supervise peer mentors
3. To have excellent interpersonal skills
4. Ability to work within a team and independently
5. Willing to travel to people's homes

Exclusion Criteria

1. Receiving an OT or physiotherapist intervention or home assessment and modification or exercise intervention eg. Falls Clinic.
2. Cognitive impairment assessed by the Abbreviated Mental Test (26) which is a quick and reliable measure suitable for identifying patients who ought to be excluded from the study.
3. Carers, peer mentors and Ots Not meeting inclusion criteria above