RIMA Research on the move for the elderly: An evaluation of APA Adaptive Physical Activity programs

Population aging is a very relevant phenomenon affecting the health care system. Raising life expectancy is certainly a goal, but the elderly are fragile and need frequent health care, with high costs for the public health care system. Hence, active aging becomes a fundamental objective to improve life quality, while programs promoting health literacy among population can determine effective cost savings. Local health care service in Piedmont Region (NW Italy) promote active aging through APA, Adapted Physical Activity. It is a protocol of physical non-clinical exercises to be carried out in small groups, aimed at changing people lifestyle and specially addressed to the elderly, who show reduced motility due to sedentary lifestyle and mild chronic conditions. This contribution proposes a methodological reflection on RIMA, an experimental research project, which is currently in progress and has two primary objectives: o Analyzing the impact of APA as a prevention tool devoted to active ageing; o Based on impact results, developing a cost-benefit analysis, with the aim of providing local health care service and other stakeholders with strategic information, which is useful for planning health promotion activities targeting the elderly. The research applies a counterfactual experimental approach (RCT) to evaluate the impact of APA on the psycho-physical conditions of over-64 attendees. In addition, the project intends to apply a new organizational model for APA dissemination among population.