(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005)
Zimring, Craig; Harris-Kojetin, Lauren; Kiefer, Kristen; Joseph, Anjali
Despite the well-established benefits of physical activity for older adults, seniors
ages 75 and above are among the most sedentary of Americans. Continuing care
retirement communities (CCRCs) seem ideal settings for creating physical activity promoting environments. We report on results of a nationally representative sample
survey of CCRCs that are members of the American Association of Homes and
Services for the Aging. Campuses with more physical activity opportunities on
campus or in the outside community, more physical activity-related staff, better
physical activity facilities and activities, more types of sources to finance the costs
of physical activity, and more channels to promote physical activity tend to have
more physically active residents. Campuses in which management places more
importance on encouraging physical activity among residents also have more physically active residents.
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005)
Zimring, Craig; Harris-Kojetin, Lauren; Kiefer, Kristen; Joseph, Anjali
In this paper we examine how the presence and visibility of outdoor and indoor physical activity resources (e.g., walking path/trail, outdoor tennis courts, gardens, etc.) influences participation in physical activity among elderly residents in non-profit continuing care retirement communities and other senior housing communities. This paper reports findings from a survey of 800 such communities. A social ecological model was used to study the relationships between the environment and physical activity behavior. A fifty-two percent response rate (n=398) was obtained. Campuses with more attractive outdoor and physical activity facilities had more residents participating in different types of physical activity.