TIME™ at Home Feasibility Study: Evaluation of a Virtually Delivered, Community-based, Task-oriented Exercise Program

Balance and mobility limitations can lead to increased difficulty with everyday function and increased dependence on caregivers. Adults with balance and mobility limitations need access to safe and beneficial exercise programs to maintain or improve their health. Task-oriented exercise programs designed for adults with balance and mobility limitations incorporating a healthcare-community partnership, are safe and feasible to implement in the community setting. In this model, trained fitness instructors deliver the exercise program, and a registered healthcare professional in a healthcare partner role provides ongoing support through class visits, email communication with instructors, and program referrals. One example is Together in Movement and Exercise (TIME™) program which was developed by physical therapists at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network (TRI-UHN). Research has shown that the in-person TIME™ program has the potential to improve everyday function, independence, and social participation in people with neurological conditions. Virtual delivery of these programs is needed to address barriers to attending in-person exercise programs. Barriers can include inadequate access to transportation, inclement weather, distance to community centres, and community centre closures during pandemic situations. This is a before-and-after study to evaluate the potential benefit, safety, and feasibility of the virtual TIME™ program (called at TIME™ at Home), delivered using a group-based, 8-week program format, among people with balance and mobility limitations. Also, the aim is to describe the experiences of participants, caregivers, healthcare partners, and program facilitators and coordinators with the program to make recommendations for improvement.