Active living for assisted living: promoting partnerships within a systems framework

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Assisted living facilities bridge the gap between community living and nursing care for the aging population.
• Sedentary behavior is linked to functional limitations and disability in older adults.
• Limited information exists on promoting physical activity within assisted living environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the social and physical environments and programming in assisted living facilities.
• To identify challenges and opportunities for promoting physical activity among residents.
• To inform the development of effective, systems-based interventions.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory study involving partnerships with assisted living executive directors.
• Interviews conducted with 21 executive directors.
• Analysis of social and physical characteristics and lifestyle promotion strategies.

Main Results:

• Identified key issues related to physical activity for older adults in assisted living.
• Explored potential modifications to social and physical environments to encourage activity.
• Highlighted the need for tailored interventions to promote physically active living.

Conclusions:

• Promoting physical activity in assisted living presents significant challenges.
• Partnerships with assisted living communities are crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Systems-based interventions can enhance engagement and promote active living in these settings.