The new CAREFIT project aims to promote the physical activity and well-being of informal caregivers
Informal care covers a significant part of the growing care needs of the Finnish population. It is estimated that over a million Finnish people act as caregivers for their loved ones, with a large proportion of these caregivers being at least 65 years old. Research has shown that caregivers are exposed to several harmful health effects due to caregiving, such as musculoskeletal problems, various pain conditions, and fatigue.
Physical activity has many well-known positive health effects and can support the health and functional capacity of older caregivers. However, due to the demands of caregiving, caregivers may neglect their own health, which is reflected for example in a decrease in leisure-time physical activity. The CAREFIT project investigates the functional capacity and physical activity behavior of older caregivers and how the caregiving situation affects caregivers’ commitment to physical activity programs. CAREFIT is a joint project of the University of Tampere and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, with close collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland, Carers Finland, and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
The CAREFIT project is based on the internationally recognized FINGER study
The CAREFIT project is based on the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s previous, internationally recognized FINGER intervention study. The randomized controlled FINGER study demonstrated that a multi-domain lifestyle intervention that includes physical activity can prevent cognitive and physical decline in older individuals at risk of dementia and improve quality of life.
In the CAREFIT project, the evidence-based FINGER lifestyle program will be adapted for older caregivers, and the development of caregivers’ physical activity and functional capacity will be examined using intervention and follow-up data from the FINGER study over a 10-year period. In addition, new information about caregivers’ health, functional capacity, and physical activity habits will be collected through an electronic survey and focus group interviews. Based on the survey responses and information from the interviews, a FINGER-based physical activity program will be developed and piloted, tailored to meet the needs of older caregivers. The planning of the six-month physical activity program will consider the physical demands of caregiving and the challenges related to caregivers’ adherence to physical activity. New data collection for the study will begin in 2025, aiming to reach a wide range of older caregivers living in Finland.
The aim is to support the health and functional capacity of caregivers.
The research project will produce new scientific information about the challenges, incentives, and effects of physical activity on the health and well-being of older caregivers. The information obtained from the project can be used in the future to develop targeted physical activity programs that support the well-being of caregivers, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving the quality of caregiving. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the inclusion of older caregivers and promote the accessibility of physical activity.
Funding from the new Academy Programme for Sports Science and Physical Activity
The CAREFIT project is funded by the new Academy Programme for Sports Science and Physical Activity (ACTIVE) of the Research Council of Finland, which promotes research related to physical activity, exercise, and sports.
For more information about the project and its current events, you can read on the University of Tampere’s website.
Contact Information:
Jenni Kulmala, Professor of Gerontology, jenni.kulmala@tuni.fi, tel. +358 50 4395422
Tiia Ngandu, Research Manager, tiia.ngandu@thl.fi
Anna Ellonen, Researcher, anna.e.ellonen@tuni.fi, tel. +358 50 4760363