The effect of out-of-home activity intervention delivered by volunteers on depressive symptoms among older people with severe mobility limitations : a randomized controlled trial

Objectives: To examine the effects of an individualized outdoor activity intervention carried out by volunteers on depressive symptoms among community-living older people with severe mobility limitations who have difficulties accessing the outdoors independently. Methods: Secondary analyses of the “Volunteering, Access to Outdoor Activities and Wellbeing in Older People” (VOW) data (ISRCTN56847832). VOW was a randomized single blinded two-arm controlled trial conducted in Jyväskylä, Finland, in 2009-2011. At baseline, 121 people aged 67-92 years with severe mobility limitations were interviewed at home and randomized into either an intervention or waiting list control group. Volunteers (n=47) had retired from regular work and were trained for the study. A volunteer assisted the participant in attending recreational out-of-home activities once a week for three months. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for the Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: In the intervention group the CES-D score did not change during the intervention (from 15.1± standard error 0.9 to 15.1± 0.9), while in the control group it increased from 17.0±1.3 to 19.1±1.4 (intervention effect p=.096). Among the subgroup with minor depressive symptoms at baseline (CES-D score 16-20), the CES-D score decreased in the intervention group and increased in the control group (p=.025). 2 Conclusion: A three-month outdoor activity intervention may improve mood among older people with severe mobility limitations. More randomized controlled trials of the topic are needed.