Gearing Up for Guide Dogs: An Exercise Video

Edgehill Mansion, Garden Room, Dominican University of California

With the increasingly large population of older adults with low vision, many older adults would benefit from having a guide dog as an assistive device. When walking with a guide dog, different upper extremity muscles and postures are adopted to handle the guide dog. However, older adults with low vision may not be in the proper physical condition to meet the strenuous demands of handling a guide dog due to the normal aging process and decreased mobility. Stretching and strengthening of these specific muscles before the Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) training program will benefit the older adults through prevention of pain and injury. The objective of the project is to improve older adults’ strength and endurance through the use of an evidence-based occupational exercise video. The exercises within the video are integrated into daily life activities to promote habituation and adherence to the program.