Feasibility of Aktiv Gegen Sturzangst (AGES) in Assisted Living Facilities

NCT07787819 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: AGES-2021849 - Age-Stiftung Project ID
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 19
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

Aktiv Gegen Sturzangst (AGES) is a multicomponent group intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy and structured exercise to address fear of falling in older adults receiving services from assisted living facilities. This single-arm, non-randomized pilot study evaluated the feasibility of implementing AGES in three assisted living facilities in Switzerland and the feasibility of study procedures and outcome measures for a future controlled trial. Nineteen older adults participated in eight weekly group sessions delivered by trained course leaders. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, course-leader deployment, protocol adherence, completion of clinical outcome measures, and feasibility of contactless LiDAR-based gait assessment.

Conditions

Fear of Falling

Keywords

Older adults; Assisted living; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Exercise; Fall prevention; Mobility; Gait

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Course-leader deployment

  Number and proportion of trained course leaders who subsequently delivered an AGES intervention group

  During the 8-week intervention period

• Participant retention

  Number and proportion of enrolled participants retained through completion of the intervention

  Baseline to approximately 8 weeks

• Completion of clinical outcome measures

  Number and proportion of participants providing paired FES-I, WHO-5 and TUG assessments

  Baseline and approximately 8 weeks

• Protocol adherence

  Number of delivering course leaders reporting delivery according to the standardized intervention manual without major deviations

  Through approximately 8 weeks

• Feasibility of LiDAR gait assessment

  Proportion of participants in whom LiDAR measurement could be acquired and proportion of acquired measurements yielding usable processed gait data

  At approximately Week 8, toward the end of the 8-week intervention period

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I)

  Baseline and approximately 8 weeks

• World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5)

  Baseline and approximately 8 weeks

• Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test

  Baseline and approximately 8 weeks

Study Arms (1)

AGES Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received the AGES intervention, consisting of eight weekly approximately 60-minute group sessions combining cognitive behavioral therapy-based components with structured physical exercises targeting balance, strength, mobility, and flexibility.

Behavioral: Multicomponent fear of falling intervention

Interventions

Multicomponent fear of falling intervention BEHAVIORAL

Eight weekly group sessions delivered by trained course leaders. Sessions included cognitive behavioral therapy-based discussion and reflection addressing emotions, automatic thoughts, safety behaviors, assumptions, goal setting, and self-management, combined with structured exercises performed in seated or supported-standing positions where appropriate.

Also known as: Aktiv Gegen Sturzangst (AGES)

AGES Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 65 years or older
• Receiving some level of care or services through a participating assisted living facility
• Identified by facility staff as potentially experiencing fear of falling or expressing interest in a fall-prevention program
• Able to participate safely in group sessions

You may not qualify if:

• Moderate to severe neurocognitive disorder
• Unstable psychiatric illness, including an acute depressive episode or substance use disorder
• Physical limitations precluding safe participation in group sessions, including blindness, severe frailty, wheelchair dependence, or requirement for full mobility assistance

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eric Lenouvel: lead
• Age-Stiftung: collaborator
• Public Health Switzerland: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Domicil Spitalackerpark

Bern, Canton of Bern, 3013, Switzerland

Location

Alterswohnheim Büttenberg Biel

Biel/Bienne, Canton of Bern, 2504, Switzerland

Location

Senevita Résidence Beaulieu Murten

Murten/Morat, Canton of Fribourg, 3280, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Lenouvel E, Ullrich P, Siemens W, Dallmeier D, Denkinger M, Kienle G, Zijlstra GAR, Hauer K, Kloppel S. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with and without exercise to reduce fear of falling in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Nov 15;11(11):CD014666. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD014666.pub2.

  PMID: 37965937 BACKGROUND

• Lenouvel E, Novak L, Biedermann A, Kressig RW, Kloppel S. Preventive treatment options for fear of falling within the Swiss healthcare system : A position paper. Z Gerontol Geriatr. 2022 Nov;55(7):597-602. doi: 10.1007/s00391-021-01957-w. Epub 2021 Sep 29.

  PMID: 34590162 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Age-Stiftung project page for Aktiv Gegen Sturzangst (AGES), including project description and documentation

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Stefan Kloeppel, MD

  Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry (UPZ), Bern

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking was used. Participants, course leaders, and investigators were aware that all participants received the AGES intervention.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Physician and Privatdozent, Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Model Details: Single-group, non-randomized pilot study in which all participants received the AGES intervention. No comparator or control group was included.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2026
• First Posted: August 26, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2022
• Study Completion: December 31, 2022
• Last Updated: August 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Beginning 6 months after publication of the primary study results and available for 5 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: Requests will be considered from qualified researchers submitting a scientifically sound proposal. Access will be subject to review by the study investigators and, where required, the responsible institution or ethics body. Data will be shared only where compatible with participant consent, applicable data-protection requirements, and an acceptable risk of re-identification. A data-use agreement may be required.

Locations

CH (3)