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2009 RSVP Bone Builders Survey Results
(Grafton & Sullivan Counties in New Hamsphire)
Overview: RSVP Bone Builders involves trained volunteers leading exercise classes twice a week. The professionally designed class curriculum is geared to elders, using stretching, balance exercises, and non-impact weight training.
Why Bone Builders? Community need:
- 28 million people suffer from osteoporosis - six million are men.
- 1.5 million+ osteoporotic fractures each year in the United States result in: more than a half a million hospitalizations; over 800,000 emergency room visits, more than 2,600,000 physician visits, and placement of nearly 180,000 individuals into nursing homes.
- In 2005, osteoporosis-related fractures were responsible for an estimated $19 billion in costs.
- Hip fractures account for about 300,000 hospitalizations each year.
- At six months after a hip fracture, only 15% of the patients can walk across a room unaided.
- An average of 24% of hip fracture patients aged 50+ die in the year following their fracture, due to complications.
- Many people break a bone from osteoporosis after a fall. In 2005, a total of 15,802 person aged 65+ died as a result of injuries from falls.
How do we know RSVP Bone Builders works? Ideally, baseline and follow-up bone density scans would be one measure, but it is cost prohibitive.
Measurement tool: This anonymous, random survey was sent via U.S. mail in April 2009 to 125 out of 305 RSVP Bone Builders involved in our program between 4/1/2008 and 3/31/2009. Folks received a survey if their mailing address is in our database. 87 people or 70% responded!
The purpose of the survey was three-fold:
- Get feedback on customer service.
- Assess the health impact of the program on the participants.
- Apply lessons learned to improving the services to the exercisers.
Local context in Grafton and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire: 305 exercisers attended class 9,653 times during the survey period, at fifteen classes at twelve sites: (Charlestown Senior Center; Cornish Town Hall; Durrell Methodist Church, (Bethlehem;) Greystone Village, (White River Junction;) Horse Meadow Senior Center, (North Haverhill;) Lincoln Greens; Littleton Area Senior Center (x3;) Mascoma Area Senior Center, (Canaan;) Monroe Town Hall; Orford Area Senior Services; Plainfield Community Church; and Plymouth Regional Senior Center (x2.) All of these sites donate their spaces for free. Weights are usually donated by local organizations, or funded with grants. This is key to our ability to bring these classes to people.
Survey highlights:
- 20 respondents or 23% answered that their doctor noted improvement in the person's bone density since starting RSVP Bone Builders.
- Of nine customer service items: 50% rated Excellent; 39% rated Good; 10% Average; and 1% rated Below Average. Issues raised: About untrained people leading the classes in leaders' absence will be addressed. Crowded and too noisy classroom spaces were noted, but ready solutions may not be available. No variety for exercisers who have been involved for years was an issue we will explore with the Master Trainer.
- Of four functional capacity items: 43% rated Significant Improvement; 44% rated Moderate Improvement; 9% rated No Change; 3% rated Moderate Reduction; and 1% rated Significant reduction.
- People reported being involved in RSVP Bone Builders: 6 since 2009; 12 since 2008; 15 since 2007; 18 since 2006; and 16 since 2005. One person no longer drives and therefore, as stopped attending. Another "lost interest" and no longer attends.
- 23% of respondents noted their doctor noted improvement in their bone density since the individual started RSVP Bone Builders. 1 person noted the bone density in her hip decreased.
- Of the fifteen, or 17%, of the survey respondents who reported falling in the past year, (6 on ice; 3 on stairs; 1 skiing; 2 because of neuropathy or stroke-related problems; 1 tripped on a garden hose; one "just standing;" and one "changing my jeans"; only one sustained any fractures.
RSVP Bone Builders is a volunteer driven program. The classes in Grafton and Sullivan Counties, and these results, would not be possible without the 19 volunteers who donated 927 hours last year leading the classes. 1% of these leaders are in their 50s; 16% in their 60s; 44% in their 70s; 28% in their 80s; and 11% in their 90s. This past year, two sites added extra class times because RSVP Bone Builders is so popular.
Why RSVP Bone Builders is popular: The reasons why were clear in the comments from the surveys. The overall gist of the comments showed that the class leaders' "knowledge" and "friendliness" are important to folks, as is the "camaraderie" and class members experience. People reported positive changes in their: flexibility, strength, balance, muscle tone, and / or energy level.
Comments include:
- My back used to go out, quite often but for about two years now, it hasn't happened.
- I came home from Rehab [for broken hip] in nine days instead of 14 days, my bones were strong from having Bone Builders.
- I do not use weights due to back problems. Despite that fact my bone density has improved.
- Last time I was at a doctor appointment she was writing on a piece of paper what activities I did during the day and what vitamins I took. I asked her why and she said, "I look at you at your age and I want to be like that at that age." What a compliment. I love Bone Builders!
- Comments by exercisers on what they like least and most about the RSVP Bone Builders classes.
- General Comments by exercisers.
- Observations by exercisers about the changes they've experienced because of the exercises.
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