Older Adults In Relation Research Articles

Physical Activity Intervention for Loneliness (PAIL) in community-dwelling older adults: a randomised feasibility study

BackgroundLow quality social relationships in older adults are strongly associated with feelings of loneliness. Physical activity interventions could reduce loneliness and improve psychological well-being, among other health benefits. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of a Physical Activity Intervention for Loneliness (PAIL) in community-dwelling older adults at risk of loneliness.MethodsThe PAIL feasibility study was a 12-week randomized controlled feasibility trial (RCT) conducted in Birmingham, United Kingdom, from February 2018 to August 2018, and ran in two waves of data collection. Eligible participants were community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older, sedentary (less than 20 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) a week), and at risk of loneliness. The intervention included once-weekly group walk and health education workshop up to 90 min per session in total, with a wait-listed (WL) control group. The primary feasibility outcomes were to estimate recruitment, retention rates and adherence to the intervention. Secondary outcome measures (not blinded assessment) were body mass index, blood pressure, physical activity and psychosocial variables. Process and outcome evaluations were conducted using focus groups interviews. The recruitment and retention progression criteria for the definitive large-scale RCT was set a-priori.ResultsForty-eight participants were recruited over 4 months with a recruitment rate of 25% (48/195); 52% (25/48) met the inclusion criteria and 100% (25/25) were randomised into the intervention (n = 12) and WL control groups (n = 13). Participants were 25 older adults (mean (SD) 68.5(8.05) years), 14 (56%) female, and 18 (72%) white. At 12 weeks, 10/12 (83.3%) intervention and 10/13 (76.9%) control participants completed the final assessments. The average attendance rate was 58.3% for the intervention group (range 33.0%-75.0%) and 42.3% (range 23.1%–69.2%) among controls. The a priori recruitment and retention criteria for progression were not met. No serious adverse events occurred. The focus group results identified three themes which showed overall positive experiences of participation in PAIL in terms of (1) study design and intervention; (2) walking sessions; and (3) health education workshops.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that community-dwelling older adults at risk of loneliness found the intervention and measures acceptable and could safely participate. However, a more extensive and robust strategy would be needed to support adequate recruitment of lonely older adults and adherence into a definitive RCT.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, NCT03458793

Nurse\u2019s attunement to patient\u2019s meaning in life - a qualitative study of experiences of Dutch adults ageing in place

BackgroundMeaning in life (MiL) is considered to be an important part of health and is associated with many positive outcomes in older adults, such as quality of life and longevity. As health promotors, nurses may take patients’ MiL into account in the care process. There is a knowledge gap in terms of what constitutes good care in relation to older patients’ MiL, and what the benefits may be for patients when nursing is attuned to this aspect. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of home nursing older adults in relation to nurses’ attunement to MiL.MethodsGadamerian hermeneutic phenomenological design with semi-structured interviews. Participants were 24 aged home nursing patients. A framework of care ethical evaluation was used in the analysis. Multiple dialogues enhanced understanding.ResultsPatients did not expect nurses’ regard for their MiL. They rather expected ‘normal contact’ and adequate physical care. Nurses showed that they were open to patients’ MiL by being interested in the patient as a person and by being attentive to specific and hidden needs. Participants explained that the nurse’s behaviour upon arrival set the tone: they knew immediately if there was room for MiL or not. All participants had positive and negative experiences with nurses’ behaviour in relation to MiL. Valued nursing care included maintaining a long, kind and reciprocal relationship; doing what was needed; and skilled personalised care. Participants mentioned ‘special ones’: nurses who attuned to them in a special way and did more than expected. Benefits of care that was attuned to patients’ MiL were: experiencing a cheerful moment, feeling secure, feeling like a valuable person and having a good day. Older adults also stressed that consideration for MiL helps identify what is important in healthcare.ConclusionAged homecare patients value nurses’ attunement to their MiL positively. Although patients regard MiL mostly as their own quest, nurses play a modest yet important role. Managers and educators should support nurses’ investment in reciprocal nurse-patient relationships.

Preparation for future care moderates the relationship between loneliness and depression among Chinese rural older adults: A cross-sectional study

Loneliness has been identified as a risk factor for depression, while preparation for future care (PFC) can be a protective factor. Little is known about their complex relationships in older adults in China. This study aimed to explore whether PFC moderated the association between loneliness and depression. A total of 481 older adults aged 60 years and above were recruited in rural Shandong, China. After excluding those whose data missing rates were over 15%, data were analyzed for a total of 436 participants. Loneliness, PFC, and depression were measured. Statistical analyses included descriptive analysis, and moderating effects analyses. Our findings showed that PFC and its related dimensions can moderate the relationship between loneliness and depression. When the level of PFC and its dimensions were higher, the effect of loneliness on depression was weaker. PFC should be taken into consideration when interventions are being developed to reduce depression in older adults.

Sibling relationships in older adulthood: Links with loneliness and well-being.

Researchers have documented associations between family relationships and a variety of well-being outcomes. Yet, sibling relationships, the longest lasting relationships in most people's lives, have received very little research attention beyond young adulthood. The goals of the current study were to: provide descriptive information about sibling relationships in later adulthood, investigate predictors of individual differences in sibling relationship quality, and examine associations among sibling relationship quality, loneliness, and well-being in later adulthood. The sample included 608 older adults (329 men, 279 women) who were 64.6 years old (SD = 4.58) on average. Participants provided self-report data about their relationships and well-being. Results showed that older adults reported high levels of sibling warmth and low levels of sibling conflict and parental favoritism. Sister-sister pairs had warmer sibling relationships than other gender-compositions. Sibling conflict and parental favoritism were positively associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and loneliness. Sibling warmth was negatively associated with loneliness. Loneliness partially mediated the associations between sibling relationship quality and well-being. Results from this study highlight the importance of sibling relationships in older adults' health and well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Rhythm-Motor Dual Task Intervention for Fall Prevention in Healthy Older Adults.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a rhythm-motor dual task intervention on cognitive and gait control for older adults in relation to fall prevention. Ten healthy older adults participated in a rhythm-motor dual task intervention and 10 participated in the control group. The intervention group received 16 30-min intervention sessions for 8 weeks. During the intervention sessions, participants engaged in walking or bimanual tapping as a primary motor task with concurrent rhythm tasks including playing instruments and rhythmic chanting or singing. At pretest and post-test, measures of cognition, balance/mobility, and gait were administered. A significant difference between groups was found for part B of the Trail Making Test (TMT-B) measure that involved executive control of attention. Also, changes in the gait ratio in the dual task condition of walking while playing an instrument were significantly different between groups. The findings in this study support the use of the rhythm-motor dual task intervention for increasing available cognitive resources and improving gait control, which are critical factors in fall prevention.

Automated vs. manual pain coding and heart rate estimations based on videos of older adults with and without dementia.

IntroductionTechnological advances have allowed for the estimation of physiological indicators from video data. FaceReader™ is an automated facial analysis software that has been used widely in studies of facial expressions of emotion and was recently updated to allow for the estimation of heart rate (HR) using remote photoplethysmography (rPPG). We investigated FaceReader™-based heart rate and pain expression estimations in older adults in relation to manual coding by experts.MethodsUsing a video dataset of older adult patients with and without dementia, we assessed the relationship between FaceReader’s™ HR estimations against a well-established Video Magnification (VM) algorithm during baseline and pain conditions. Furthermore, we examined the correspondence between the Facial Action Coding System (FACS)-based pain scores obtained through FaceReader™ and manual coding.ResultsFaceReader’s™ HR estimations were correlated with VM algorithm in baseline and pain conditions. Non-verbal FaceReader™ pain scores and manual coding were also highly correlated despite discrepancies between the FaceReader™ and manual coding in the absolute value of scores based on pain-related facial action coding of the events preceding and following the pain response.ConclusionsCompared to expert manual FACS coding and optimized VM algorithm, FaceReader™ showed good results in estimating HR values and non-verbal pain scores.

Relationship Between Domain-Specific Cognitive Function and Speech-in-Noise Performance in Older Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Hearing Pilot Study.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between performance on a clinical speech-in-noise measure with a comprehensive neurocognitive battery of tests. Method A group of older adults (N = 250, M age = 77 years, age range: 67.3-89.1 years) enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study took part in the hearing pilot study (2013) that included testing for audiometric thresholds and speech-in-noise performance (Quick Speech-in-Noise Test; Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004). This research study analyzed the associations between domain-specific cognitive function and speech-in-noise performance after adjusting for hearing thresholds and other demographic and cardiovascular factors. Results Multivariable-adjusted associations were found between all cognitive domains and speech-in-noise performance in the full sample, but the observed associations varied when participants with varying levels of moderate to moderately severe hearing loss were excluded from the analysis. Conclusions The findings are discussed in terms considering the cognitive status of older adults in relation to their speech-in-noise performance during audiological evaluation and implications for aural rehabilitation.

Mediators of the socioeconomic status and life satisfaction relationship in older adults: a multi-country structural equation modeling approach

Objectives Socioeconomic status (SES) relates to life satisfaction in old age, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Health and subjective social status have shown to be related to both SES and life satisfaction. This study aims to test the mediating role of health and subjective social status in old age, and to analyze if these potential mediations vary among three European countries with different socioeconomic characteristics and welfare regimes. Method The sample comprised 7,272 participants aged 50+ from COURAGE in Europe study, a household survey carried out in 2011–2012 on nationally representative samples from Finland, Poland, and Spain. A Multiple Indicators, Multiple Causes approach based on multi-group Structural Equation Modeling was implemented to test mediating effects. Results The structural invariance model showed an adequate fit (CFI = 0.971, RMSEA = 0.061). Health and subjective social status invariantly mediated the relationship between SES and life satisfaction across countries with different socioeconomic characteristics and welfare regimes. SES direct effects explained 0.83–0.85% of life satisfaction variance, whilst indirect effects explained 2.29–2.36% of life satisfaction variance via health, 3.30–3.42% via subjective social status, and 0.06% via both mediating variables. Conclusion Policies aimed at increasing the SES of the older adults may entail multiple benefits, resulting in better subjective social status, health, and life satisfaction outcomes, thus fostering healthy aging of the population.

ESPO/BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES: SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, ISOLATION, AND WELL-BEING

The purpose of this symposium is twofold: (1) To present innovative research linking social relationships, isolation, and well-being among older adults, and (2) To highlight new and emerging scholars in the Behavioral and Social Sciences section of GSA. The papers in this symposium examine the repercussions of numerous relationships for well-being in later life. Huo and colleagues examine the impacts of contact with close and not-close social partners on physical activity, highlighting differences by gender. Polenick and colleagues focus on perhaps the closest of relationships in later life: marriage, analyzing longitudinal associations between discordant chronic conditions and depressive symptoms among older couples. Upenieks takes an intergenerational perspective, examining the embeddedness of adult children in older adults’ networks in the context of both depression onset and chronically high depressive symptomology. This paper also highlights the consequences of well-being for older adults’ social isolation, and not merely the reverse. Hladek and colleagues explore the subjective side of isolation among older adults with chronic disease, noting links between loneliness and self-efficacy that may have clinical and interventional significance. Lastly, Meinertz and Gilligan explore potential gaps in service provision that may increase rural older adults’ risk of isolation and abuse. Taken together, these five papers underscore the importance of various social relationships for older adults’ well-being, and suggest implications for how best to promote healthy aging. As discussant, Thomas will assess the strengths and limitations of these papers, and consider the contributions these studies – and new scholars – can make to the field.

INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND ADULT CHILDREN: AMBIVALENT FEELINGS

Objectives: The relationship of older adults with their adult children involves great emotional complexity and the quality of these relationships is associated with older adults’ well-being. This qualitative study aims to examine how older adults conceptualize intergenerational relationships with adult children. Methods: The present study on qualitative data collected from in-depth interviews was conducted with English and Portuguese older adults living in the community, designed to address their perspectives on intergenerational relations with adult children. 316 older adults participated in our study. The mean age of this group was 71.2 years. 65.3% were women, and a majority (54.7%) had a partner. Results: Content analysis generated four themes: affection and integration; satisfaction in the relationship; privacy and boundaries; financial support. Conclusions: Intergenerational relationships are experienced by older adults with ambivalence and and stress the contradictory expectations of older adults with grandchildren.

DIGITAL INEQUALITY IN OLDER ADULTS’ ONLINE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL CAPITAL

The increasing popularity of social media and other online communities offers new possibilities for older adults to stay socially connected. This study examines the relationship of older adults’ online social engagement and bonding as well as bridging social capital based on a survey of over 1,000 adults aged 60 and over. Social bonding refers to support obtained from existing strong social ties while social bridging is creating connections across varied social networks. We estimated three multi-stage regression models to examine these relationships when controlling for sociodemographic factors, as well as Internet experiences and skills. We then extended the regression models with Internet skills as a moderator. Findings show that older adults who engage more often in specific online social activities (i.e., asking questions on social media, looking at photos of family members/others) enjoy greater bridging social capital (both in offline and online contexts) than those who do so less often. Furthermore, Internet skills moderate the relationship between online social engagement and social capital. Specifically, older adults with greater Internet skills benefit relatively more from engaging in specific online social activities more often with respect to online social bridging. These results imply that digital inequalities may put older adults who are less skilled in using the Internet at a disadvantage when it comes to building social capital from online social engagement. Thus, while social media has potential positive implications for well-being among older adults, the current manifestation of this does not suggest equitable distribution of those benefits across different older users.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN CHINA

Although subjective cognitive decline is considered as a potential symptomatic indicator of cognitive decline, little is known regarding the relationships in older adults in China. Using the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 data, we examined the association between subjective cognitive function, perceived memory decline, and objective cognitive function among adults aged 50 or older (N=13,367) in China. Objective cognitive function was measured by immediate and delayed recall test, digit span test, and verbal fluency test. Multivariate linear regression models were used to account for sociodemographic, psychosocial, and health-related factors. We found worse subjective cognitive function was associated with poorer working memory and verbal fluency. Greater perceived memory decline was also associated with poorer working memory but not with verbal fluency. Psychosocial factors including social cohesion and social support attenuated the relationships between subjective cognitive function, perceived memory decline, and objective cognitive performance.

Gender Differences in the Association between Frailty, Cognitive Impairment, and Self-Care Behaviors Among Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), common in older adults, increases the risk of heart failure, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Self-care behaviors help avoid adverse events in older patients with AF. However, while frailty and cognitive impairment can contribute to poor self-care behaviors, few studies have explored these relationships in older adults with AF. This cross-sectional study aims to determine associations between frailty, cognitive impairment, and self-care behaviors among older adults with AF by gender. A total of 298 patients with AF aged 60 and over were assessed with a self-reported questionnaire consisting of the Korean version of the FRAIL scale, modified mini-mental state examination, and self-care scale for AF. Prevalence of frailty and prefrailty in men and women was around 11% and 48.4% and 28% and 47.4%, respectively. According to the hierarchical linear regression analysis, in men, prefrailty (β = −2.874, p = 0.013) and frailty (β = −7.698, p < 0.001) were associated with self-care behaviors; in women, frailty (β = −5.476, p = 0.003), and cognitive impairment (β = −3.350, p = 0.044) were associated with self-care behaviors. Developing individualized care plans will require periodic screening of older patients with AF to determine their frailty status and cognitive function.

Observational cohort study investigating cognitive outcomes, social networks and well-being in older adults: a study protocol

IntroductionSocial networks play a role in slowing the development of dementia. However, there is a need for further investigation of the effects of improving social networks on health-related quality of...

Is immunotherapy toxicity associated with improved overall survival among older adults with advanced cancer?

6580 Background: There is growing evidence that checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy (IO) toxicity is associated with improved treatment response. There is a paucity of evidence examining the relationship between toxicity and overall survival (OS) in older adults. Methods: We performed a single institution retrospective cohort study of adults who received IO for advanced cancer from 2011-2017. Baseline clinical characteristics were abstracted from the electronic health record. Immune-related toxicities were graded by physicians based on Common Terminology for Adverse Events criteria, v4.0. Bivariate analysis with chi-squared statistics was used to describe baseline characteristics of patients ≥70 years (y) vs. &lt;70y. Survival outcomes were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method (time zero = start of first-line IO) and compared using the log-rank test. The association of age and ≥ grade 3 toxicity with OS was tested with a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Among 676 patients treated with IO, 238 (35.4%) were ≥70y. There was no difference in baseline characteristics of each age group except cancer type (P&lt;0.01). The incidence of ≥ grade 3 toxicity did not differ by age (&lt;70y: 14.5% vs. ≥70y: 13.5%, P=0.71). Median OS was significantly longer for adults &lt;70y (16.4 vs. 13.2 months, P&lt;0.01) or those with ≥ grade 3 toxicity (18.3 vs. 14.7 months, P&lt;0.01). When stratified by age and toxicity, patients &lt;70y with ≥ grade 3 toxicity had longer OS vs. those without ≥ grade 3 toxicity (P&lt;0.01). However, there was no OS difference among adults ≥70y with vs. without ≥ grade 3 toxicity (P=0.78). Adjusted hazard ratios with an interaction term are below. Conclusions: Though the incidence of ≥ grade 3 toxicity did not significantly differ by age, there was no significant OS advantage for older adults with ≥ grade 3 toxicity as compared to younger adults. Caution should be used in considering a toxicity-survival relationship in older adults.[Table: see text]

Gross Motor Skills Training Leads to Increased Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Healthy Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Exercise is recognized as a promising approach to counteract aging-associated declines in cognitive functions. However, the exact molecular pathways involved remain unclear. Aerobic training interventions and improvements in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) have been associated with increases in the peripheral concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and better cognitive performances. However, other training interventions such as resistance training and gross motor skills programs were also linked with improvements in cognitive functions. Thus far, few studies have compared different types of physical exercise training protocols and their impact on BDNF concentrations, especially in participants over 60 years old. The main objective of this study was to compare the effects of three exercise protocols on plasma BDNF concentrations at rest in healthy older adults. Thirty-four older adults were randomized into three interventions: (1) lower body strength and aerobic training (LBS-A), (2) upper body strength and aerobic training (UBS-A), or (3) gross motor activities (GMA). All interventions were composed of 3 weekly sessions over a period of 8 weeks. Physical, biochemical, and cognitive assessments were performed pre and post-intervention. All interventions resulted in improved cognitive functions but the GMA intervention induced a larger increase in plasma BDNF concentrations than LBS-A. No correlation was observed between changes in BDNF concentrations and cognitive performances. These findings suggest that a program of GMA could lead to enhancements in plasma BDNF concentrations. Moreover, cognition improvement could occur without concomitant detectable changes in BDNF, which highlights the multifactorial nature of the exercise-cognition relationship in older adults.

The Effect of the Stretch-Shortening Cycle in the Force-Velocity Relationship and Its Association With Physical Function in Older Adults With COPD.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) on different portions of the force–velocity (F–V) relationship in older adults with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to assess its association with physical function. The participants were 26 older adults with COPD (79 ± 7 years old; FEV1 = 53 ± 36% of predicted) and 10 physically active non-COPD (77 ± 4 years old) older adults. The F–V relationship was evaluated in the leg press exercise during a purely concentric muscle action and compared with that following an eccentric muscle action at 10% intervals of maximal unloaded shortening velocity (V0). Vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness, pennation angle (PA), and fascicle length (FL) were assessed by ultrasound. Habitual gait speed was measured over a 4-m distance. COPD subjects exhibited lower physical function and concentric maximal muscle power (Pmax) values compared with the non-COPD group (both p < 0.05). The SSC increased force and power values among COPD participants at 0–100 and 1–100% of V0, respectively, while the same was observed among non-COPD participants only at 40–90 and 30–90% of V0, respectively (all p < 0.05). The SSC induced greater improvements in force, but not power, among COPD compared with non-COPD subjects between 50 and 70% of V0 (all p < 0.05). Thus, between-group differences in muscle power were not statistically significant after the inclusion of the SSC (p > 0.05). The SSC-induced potentiation at 50–100% of V0 was negatively associated with physical function (r = -0.40–0.50), while that observed at 80–100% of V0 was negatively associated with VL muscle thickness and PA (r = -0.43–0.52) (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, older adults with COPD showed a higher SSC-induced potentiation compared with non-COPD subjects, which eliminated between-group differences in muscle power when performing SSC muscle actions. The SSC-induced potentiation was associated with lower physical function, VL muscle thickness, and VL PA values. The SSC-induced potentiation may help as a compensatory mechanism in those older subjects with a decreased ability to produce force/power during purely concentric muscle actions.

Loneliness, Depression, and Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Therapeutic Role of Human–Animal Interactions

ABSTRACTThe global population of older persons is projected in 2050 to reach approximately 2.1 billion. As people age, feelings of loneliness, depression, and physical inactivity often occur due to a multitude of reasons. These feelings may manifest and cause adverse health outcomes. With the predicted increase of older adults worldwide, the prevalence of loneliness, depression, and physical inactivity may also worsen over time if unattended. Since older adults are subject to psychological and physical changes as they age, it is important to find creative ways to address the health needs of this growing population. Therefore, interventions are needed to prevent or decrease the psychological and physical challenges that older adults face. This paper examines existing literature on human–animal interactions (HAIs) in the lives of older adults in relation to concepts such as loneliness, depression, and physical activity. The psychological and physical health benefits of animals for older adults include decreased loneliness and depression, improved cardiovascular health, and increased physical activity. There is mounting evidence supporting the therapeutic psychological and physical health benefits of animals in the lives of older adults. However, there are practical and financial implications that must be considered. Methodological considerations and future directions for human–animal interaction research with older adults are also discussed.

Association between speed of sound of calcaneal bone assessed by quantitative ultrasound and sarcopenia in a general older adult population: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundLower calcaneal speed of sound may be related to sarcopenia because sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis show a linked relationship in older adults. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether the speed of sound of calcaneal bone assessed by quantitative ultrasound is associated with sarcopenia in a community-dwelling older adult population. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional observational study. The participants in the study were recruited from a group of individuals who had registered for an annual town-sponsored medical check-up. The inclusion criteria for participation in the study were (1) aged older than 40 years, (2) living independently, and (3) able to walk without assistance. Those who had nursing care insurance were excluded. Four hundred sixty-seven residents (182 men, 285 women) were registered in the study. Demographic information, fall history, muscle mass index, grip strength, and gait speed were assessed. The speed of sound through the calcaneal bone was evaluated using a CM-200 sonometer. The assessment for sarcopenia is based on the recommendations of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. ResultsSpeed of sound was positively correlated with muscle mass index and gait speed in men, and was positively correlated with grip strength and gait speed in women, when adjusted for age and body mass index. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex and other confounders, speed of sound was independently related with lower gait speed and sarcopenia in women. Speed of sound under 1470.5 m/sec had discriminated for sarcopenia in females. ConclusionWe propose that the speed of sound of calcaneal bone may be used to screen for sarcopenia in women. Sarcopenia should be considered if the speed of sound value is less than 1470.5 m/s in older women.

Physical Activity Intervention for Loneliness (PAIL) in community-dwelling older adults: protocol for a feasibility study

BackgroundLow-quality social relationships in older adults are strongly associated with feelings of loneliness. Physical activity interventions could reduce loneliness and improve psychological well-being, among other health benefits. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of a Physical Activity Intervention for Loneliness (PAIL) in community-dwelling older adults at risk for loneliness.Methods/designThis feasibility study is a two-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) with a wait-list control group using a mixed-methods research design. The primary aim of the feasibility study is to estimate recruitment, retention and adherence rates; the appropriateness of the intervention design and its practicality; the acceptability of the intervention by participants; and the set of instruments and measures and primary outcome measures to inform a future large-scale randomised trial. After eligibility screening, randomisation will be conducted using computer-based random sequence generation. Baseline and post-intervention assessments for intervention and control groups will include height, weight, body mass index, resting blood pressure, physical activity using accelerometry, loneliness, social support, social networks, anxiety and depression, self-efficacy for exercise, satisfaction with social contacts, and expected outcomes and barriers for exercise using questionnaires. Focus groups will be conducted at the mid-point and post-intervention period using a phenomenological approach to analyse the participants’ experiences of taking part in PAIL.DiscussionThis trial will provide important information regarding the feasibility of PAIL in community-dwelling older adults at risk for loneliness using a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative research methods.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT03458793