Wellness Policies That Help Older Populations Stay Active
By Tonia Callender, GWI research fellow
Whether it’s seniors hitting the dance floors in Belgium or Korea, older adult outdoor group exercise in China and Uganda, or senior gym programs in North America, more older adults are keeping physically active as they age. And yet, too many older adults have limited access to exercise facilities. What policies can engage more seniors in physical activity? GWI’s research team outlines programs to address the most common exercise barriers faced by older adults.
Regular physical activity is widely recognized as a key driver of longevity.1 Whether it’s seniors hitting the dance floors in Belgium or Korea, older adult outdoor group exercise in China and Uganda or senior gym programs in North America, more older adults are keeping physically active as they age. For all countries, and especially for “super-age”2 countries like Japan, Finland, Italy, France, Portugal and Germany, helping older populations stay active is critically important. And yet, many older adults have limited access to exercise facilities. Others––particularly those with health conditions or limited mobility––may not have comfortable or safe exercising spaces.3
GWI’s Wellness Policy Toolkit: Physical Activity describes programs and policies designed to engage more older adults in physical activity. These policies can address the most common barriers faced by older adults, including financial constraints, limited options, transportation concerns, accessibility issues and stigma.
One cost-effective policy is offering outdoor recreation infrastructure specifically targeting older adults. Outdoor recreation spaces tailored to seniors not only increase physical activity but also address the need for social interaction and self-efficacy. These “senior playgrounds” first originated in China in the 1990s, but quickly spread in Asia (Taiwan, Japan), Europe and North America.4 The Toolkit also highlights other policies that promote longevity. Policy recommendations include:
- Promoting laws and regulations to decrease physical activity disparities, such as requiring the provision of equal quality services, parks and recreation facilities for older populations
- Providing free access to community-funded exercise/sports/recreation facilities and programs (or subsidized access to private facilities) for older adults
- Establishing joint-use agreements for older members of the community to use school-based sports and recreation facilities
- Ensuring that public recreation facilities and programs are accessible for older adults with disabilities
- Educating physical activity professionals on ageism and the unique needs of older adults
- Supporting staff in assisted living/nursing facilities/senior centers on safe movement programs for older adults with physical limitations
- Expanding research on physical activity for older adults including participation rates, guidelines, barriers/constraints, health benefits, and effective interventions
For more information on wellness policies that support older adult physical activity see GWI’s Wellness Policy Toolkit: Physical Activity.
