Experience Corps: A dual trial to promote the health of older adults and children's academic success

Authors

Linda P. Fried, Columbia University; The Johns Hopkins University
Michelle C. Carlson, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University
Sylvia McGill, Greater Homewood Community Corporation
Teresa Seeman, The University of California at Los Angeles
Qian-Li Xue, The Johns Hopkins University
Kevin Frick, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of PublicHealth
Erwin Tan, The Johns Hopkins University
Elizabeth K. Tanner, The Johns Hopkins University
Jeremy Barron, The Johns Hopkins University
Constantine Frangakis, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Rachel Piferi, The Johns Hopkins University
Iveris Martinez, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International UniversityFollow
Tara Gruenewald, The University of California at Los Angeles
Barbara K. Martin, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Laprisha Berry-Vaughn, The Johns Hopkins University
John Stewart, Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement Education
Kay Dickersin, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Paul R. Willging, The Johns Hopkins University

Date of this Version

7-28-2014

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Background As the population ages, older adults are seeking meaningful, and impactful, post-retirement roles. As a society, improving the health of people throughout longer lives is a major public health goal. This paper presents the design and rationale for an effectiveness trial of Experience Corps?, an intervention created to address both these needs. This trial evaluates (1) whether senior volunteer roles within Experience Corps? beneficially impact children's academic achievement and classroom behavior in public elementary schools and (2) impact on the health of volunteers. Methods Dual evaluations of (1) an intention-to-treat trial randomizing eligible adults 60 and older to volunteer service in Experience Corps?, or to a control arm of usual volunteering opportunities, and (2) a comparison of eligible public elementary schools receiving Experience Corps? to matched, eligible control schools in a 1:1 control:intervention school ratio. Outcomes For older adults, the primary outcome is decreased disability in mobility and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Secondary outcomes are decreased frailty, falls, and memory loss; slowed loss of strength, balance, walking speed, cortical plasticity, and executive function; objective performance of IADLs; and increased social and psychological engagement. For children, primary outcomes are improved reading achievement and classroom behavior in Kindergarten through the 3rd grade; secondary outcomes are improvements in school climate, teacher morale and retention, and teacher perceptions of older adults. Summary This trial incorporates principles and practices of community-based participatory research and evaluates the dual benefit of a single intervention, versus usual opportunities, for two generations: older adults and children.

Originally Published In

Contemporary clinical trials

PMID

23680986

DOI

10.1016/j.cct.2013.05.003

Comments

PubMed Author Manuscript

Recommended Citation

Fried, Linda P.; Carlson, Michelle C.; McGill, Sylvia; Seeman, Teresa; Xue, Qian-Li; Frick, Kevin; Tan, Erwin; Tanner, Elizabeth K.; Barron, Jeremy; Frangakis, Constantine; Piferi, Rachel; Martinez, Iveris; Gruenewald, Tara; Martin, Barbara K.; Berry-Vaughn, Laprisha; Stewart, John; Dickersin, Kay; and Willging, Paul R., "Experience Corps: A dual trial to promote the health of older adults and children's academic success" (2014). All Faculty. 57.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/all_faculty/57

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.