Encouraging Exercise for Adults 65 and Older with Osteoarthritis Using SilverSneakers Benefits Through Proactive Support vs. Usual Care

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a proactive care approach to encourage older adults with osteoarthritis to use their SilverSneakers exercise benefits provided through Medicare Advantage plans. This trial aims to see if mailed materials and phone calls can increase exercise participation, improve physical, social, and psychological health outcomes important to these adults, and reduce costly osteoarthritis-related healthcare use. About 1,454 participants aged 65 and older with osteoarthritis and no prior SilverSneakers use will be recruited across the United States for this randomized controlled trial. Participants will be assigned to either a Proactive Care group or a Usual Care group. The Proactive Care group receives one mailing alerting them to their SilverSneakers benefit, followed by two phone calls to help them plan and activate their exercise participation, including options to send information to their primary care providers. The Usual Care group receives the standard information about SilverSneakers benefits. Exercise options are available both online and in-person. The study follows participants for two years with assessments at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. During the study, researchers will collect data from health claims databases and self-report surveys to measure physical function, SilverSneakers enrollment and usage, physical activity levels, pain, fatigue, depression, social participation, healthcare visits, surgeries, medication use, and healthcare costs. The main outcomes focus on changes from baseline to 24 months. This comprehensive monitoring will help determine if proactive care improves exercise use and health outcomes while reducing healthcare service use over the two-year follow-up period.

Activating SilverSneakers Benefits for Seniors With Osteoarthritis