Well Elderly 2, Los Angeles, California, 2004-2008

Older people are at risk for health decline and loss of independence. Lifestyle interventions offer potential for reducing such negative outcomes. The Well Elderly study attempts to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a preventive lifestyle-based occupational therapy intervention, administered in a variety of community-based sites, in improving mental and physical well-being and cognitive functioning in ethnically diverse older people. Participants included 460 men and women aged 60 - 95 years recruited from 21 sites in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. For six months elders in one group received the Well Elderly Intervention, while elders in the other group remained untreated for the first six months and received the intervention during the second 6-month phase. Following receipt of the intervention, subjects in both groups remained untreated for respective twelve month spans. The manualized intervention consisted of small group and individual sessions led by a licensed occupational therapist. Typically, each group had 6 to 8 members, all recruited from the same site and treated by the same intervener. Monthly community outings were scheduled to facilitate direct experience with intervention content such as the use of public transportation. An assessment battery (including questionnaires, cognitive tests, and biomarker samples) measured potential mediating variables as well as outcome variables and was administered at study baseline and at subsequent six-month intervals. In addition, at baseline a set of background and control variables were measured. At the end of each assessment session (questionnaires and cognitive tests), subjects provided salivary samples. The Samples were assayed for cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and alpha amylase. Assessment of health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, and depression was based on self-rated questionnaires. Cognitive tests were conducted individually. Perceived physical health and aspects of mental well-being were measured, as were depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction. Variable categories include, health survey, stressful events, feelings, connections, attitudes, supports, beliefs, issues, activities, and demographics i.e. respondents age, sex, race, education level, employment, and income.