RAMPING UP INNOVATIONS FOR VETERAN HEALTH—EXERCISE FOR WHOLE HEALTH THE GEROFIT WAY

Abstract

The provision of exercise/physical activity guidance within the wellness and prevention rubric is challenging and often inadequate as access to exercise specialists outside of rehabilitation is often lacking. Gerofit, an exercise and health promotion program for Veterans ages 65+, is an established program with a strong evidence base of robust outcomes including improved physical and psychological health, reduced cardio-metabolic risk, and high rates of program satisfaction. The program is now serving older Veterans in thirteen VA Medical Centers across the country. The past four years have been devoted to codifying and evaluating outcomes from center-based programs, to development and testing of effective exercise/physical activity delivery to individuals unable to attend center-based programs, and to development of exercise/physical activity innovations for special populations. The first paper describes a VA/Community partnership to facilitate exercise assessments and tailored exercise prescriptions for rural Veterans. The second paper describes findings from a “prehab” exercise program for older Veterans facing surgery. The third paper describes a video telehealth circuit exercise program delivered from a medical center to community-based clinics. The fourth paper describes a proactive approach to screen and reach high numbers of older Veterans eligible for exercise counseling. The fifth paper describes changes in cardiovascular, diabetes, mental health, and opioid medications following one-year of center-based exercise. These papers highlight numerous innovations in exercise delivery that provide wide ranging benefits to older adults. This work contributes to meeting the needs of the fastest growing and largest segment of the Veteran population