Engaging Older Adults in Physical Activity – Learning
Introduction
In partnership with Kent County Council Public Health, Active Kent & Medway facilitated a number of Older Adult and Physical Activity Engagement workshops to find out the motivations and barriers faced by older adults towards physical activity and how we can address these to help older adults remain independent for longer.
Four workshops were held:
- Two in-person workshops with older adults in East and West Kent.
- Two online workshops with stakeholders/deliverers in East and West Kent.
Active Kent & Medway would like to thank all the Deliverers and Older Adults who participated in the Workshops. Their input and feedback was invaluable.
Learning
Older Adult Insights
Barriers: For retired older adults, cost, transport and confidence stop them from being as active as they would like. Whilst working older adults find that time, their lifestyle and class availability prevents them from taking part.
Motivations: To encourage more activity, retired older adults want activities to be local to them, accessible by public transport, optional membership and offer social elements in places they feel comfortable. Working older adults, would like activities to fit around their working day, offer taster sessions and want to be educated about keeping healthy.
Activity Preferences: Popular activities include dancing, Tai Chi, swimming/aqua aerobics, yoga and Pilates, bowls, box fit, and walking.
Deliverer Insights
Challenges: Deliverers often struggle with capacity, funding, and marketing knowledge. They also struggle with finding qualified instructors who understand the needs of older adults.
Support Needed: Deliverers expressed the need for staff training, long term sustainable funding, and better collaboration between organisations. They also highlighted the importance of minimizing paperwork and processes.
Perceptions and Communication: There is a need to challenge older adults’ perceptions of classes and improve communication skills among younger instructors.
Feedback
“I see some of the younger instructors and I just think there is a wealth of knowledge but a lack of communication skill when dealing with and working with older adults”
“It's finding somewhere that's easy to get to, isn't costing a fortune, doesn't involve memberships or signing up, something that you could just drop into.”
“The paperwork and the process becomes the priority, and we lose touch of what needs to happen, which is getting people moving.”
"I feel selfish using money on activities when it's needed for other things."
“Older people tend to stay in their postcode area - venues need to be close to them.”
“Love the idea of taster sessions, don't want to commit to a programme unless I know I enjoy it.”
Conclusion
Older adults recognise the benefits of being active but face various barriers. Understanding these barriers and motivations is crucial for providing the right activities in the right places. Better collaboration and partnership between health, community, and sports organisations are essential for coordinated activities and changing perceptions.
Next Steps
- Enhance collaboration between organisations.
- Provide targeted support and training for Deliverers.
- Develop and promote activities that cater to the specific needs and preferences of older adults.
Support and Resources
Contact Us
If you’d like to discuss the findings of the engagement workshops, please contact Elise Rendall, Strategic Lead – Health and Physical Activity, elise.rendall@kent.gov.uk