INTRODUCTION: The world population of persons aged 60+ is expected to grow by 56% by 2030 from the 2015 level. Statistics Canada is reporting that Canada’s senior population now outnumbers that of children. This has significant medical, social and financial implications. There are a number of diseases with a higher incidence in older adults. With an increase in the number of older adults and the fact that older adults are living longer, there will be ever increasing social and financial costs. These costs can be minimized by postponing or preventing disease occurrence. Researchers have proposed and therapists have provided interventions with some levels of success. This scoping review investigates the state of research using multiple modalities to more robustly lessen or prevent the negative effects of the diseases of an aging population.

METHOD: A scoping review is being conducted using the Arksey & O’Malley (2005) framework. A preliminary search of five electronic databases has been conducted looking for evidence of improved or maintained health through multimodal interventions with community living older adults. Additional databases, including the grey literature, and results of hand searching will be included. Exclusion criteria are research reports in languages other than English, interventions using only one modality, and research using animal models.

RESULTS: Combinations of diet with exercise and mental stimulation with social participation are most commonly found. Some preliminary research studies are predicting improved mental health and others predict delays in the incidence of dementia. This resilience has wider implications. Older adults who are or become resilient should be better able to cope with the stresses of aging, including disease processes.

RESULTS: Combinations of diet with exercise and mental

stimulation with social participation are most commonly found.

Some preliminary research studies are predicting improved

mental health and others predict delays in the incidence of

dementia. This resilience has wider implications. Older adults who

are or become resilient should be better able to cope with the

stresses of aging, including disease proces

DISCUSSION: Questions to be answered include if combinations of interventions are more successful in preventing or reducing the effects of diseases. If combinations are more successful, which ones are having a better success rate, and most interesting, what is the effect of multimodal lifestyle interventions?