AUTHOR=Browne Julia , Elbogen Eric B. , Mueser Kim T. , Rudolph James L. , Wu Wen Chih , Philip Noah S. , Mills Whitney L. , Young Alexander S. , Sloane Richard , Hall Katherine S. 

TITLE=Retention of older veterans with serious mental illness in a clinical exercise program

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1221030

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1221030

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p>Older adults with serious mental illness (SMI) have compromised physical function that could be improved with exercise; however, retention in exercise programs is a challenge. This study was a retrospective analysis of retention for the 150 older veterans with SMI that enrolled in Gerofit, a clinical exercise program offered in the Veterans Health Administration. Chi-square and <italic>t</italic>-tests were conducted to evaluate baseline differences between those that were and were not retained at six and 12 months. Retention was 33% and better health-related quality of life and endurance were related to retention. Future work is needed to improve exercise program retention in this population.</p>