older adult program . They should account for the physical and mental agility of individuals to negotiate environmental conditions under which they move and any sensory challenges they face . This is particularly pertinent in the case of older adults with conditions such as arthritis osteoporosis , low back pain and issues of reduced balance .
Everyone wants to be independent and retain control of their lives – and the ability to remain active is key to this .
Program and participant considerations
Any program should aim to :
• educate people on the need , ways and means to remain physically active , healthy and safe
• teach and provide appropriate skills
• motivate and support people to become involved in a lifelong commitment to physical activity .
Participants need to develop the necessary skills to move in a safe and effective manner . In order for this to happen , programs should aim to improve not only the physical , but also the sensory systems and mental agility of individuals so that they can cope with the activities . Any program should try to include activities relevant to daily living to provide realistic outcomes for participants . In fact , the ability to perform fundamental functional movements should be a stated fitness goal . As Patricia Brill writes in her book Functional Fitness for Older Adults , ‘ Through effective , comprehensive functional fitness programs , older adults may be able to avoid , postpone , reduce or even reverse declines in physical performance ’ 3 .
Take some time to remind participants exactly why it is so important for them to be able to move well as they grow older . Explaining the ‘ why ’ behind their training can help motivate them to adhere to the program . Body control is needed in order to be able to :
• walk safely and easily – to be able to move at different speeds and in different directions
• respond quickly to any disturbance in balance
• move up or down , in different planes of movement with relative ease
• adapt to different environments and respond to different task demands
• do more than one thing at a time
• prevent avoidable slips , trips and falls .
Getting people started and keeping them on track
‘ I ’ m willing to make changes in my lifestyle as long as I don ’ t have to do anything different !’ When you work with groups of older adults you may well hear similar sentiments expressed ! Getting people started and then keeping them motivated to exercise on a long term basis will always be a significant challenge , especially if participants have had a health scare or ‘ event ’. Many older adults recognise the need to become or remain active for as long as possible , but may be nervous about getting involved because of valid fears concerning exercise , a major one being the fear of injury or exacerbating an existing condition .
To achieve the best results , a knowledgeable , supportive and empathetic approach is required . In addition to conducting suitable screening and assessments , it is important to ascertain individual capabilities and discover the participants ’ wants , needs and expectations with regards what they hope to gain from the exercise program . As far as is reasonably possible , your expectations regarding outcomes should match , or at least closely align with , those of the participant .
When working with any older adult you should consider :
• previous experiences and perceptions ( both theirs and yours )
• the many barriers , fears , hurdles and health issues that may be present
• the individual ’ s perspective , attitude and personality traits
• background with regards education and literacy , language and culture
• the expectations and perceived outcomes from participation .
A work in progress
Training older adults will be an ongoing learning process for all concerned . Multiple levels and layers are needed in order to plan programs appropriately . Programs need to be graded and progressed where and when possible . Multiple strategies may be needed to suit different individuals .
One program cannot accommodate all at the same time . There are too many variables to consider and adaptations required to ensure that exercises are appropriate , realistic and safe .
Program success depends on innovation , creativity , persistence and recognition of the individual . The ways , means and applications will require a degree of flexibility as you respond to the ability , safety , interest and progression of participants .
I have many inspiring individuals in my classes between 60 and 90 + years of age who , despite having movement limitations due to a health condition or lower fitness level , are very willing and able to participate in regular exercise ( some have been doing so for over 20 years !)
Assisting older adults to become and remain active and maintain their quality of life is very rewarding – but you won ’ t win everyone over , however hard you try . That ’ s OK , just keep working at it , enjoy and believe in what you ’ re doing , and find creative ways to achieve the results you and they are aiming for .
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Sally Castell has a physiotherapy , recreational therapy and fitness professional background . She has over 40 years ’ experience in the health and fitness industries , with vast work experience in rehabilitation centres , hospitals , community settings and retirement centres in the UK and Australia . Her exercise business Movement Matters focuses on exercise for the over 50 ’ s .
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