Physical activity in nursing homes--barriers and facilitators: a cross-sectional study
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Updated: May 25, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Sonja Kalinowski1, Ines Wulff, Marita Kölzsch
1Inst. of Medical Sociology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
Purpose:
To explore different institutional barriers to and facilitators of physical activity (PA) in nursing homes.
Methods:
Cross-sectional survey of 40 German nursing homes and 217 nursing-home residents (NHRs; M ± SD age 80 ± 10.2 yr, 55% women, MMSE ≥20). Quantitative data were collected on the structural characteristics of nursing homes and the PA services available.
Results:
Forms of exercise available were not adequately communicated to residents. Overall participation was below 50%. Awareness was significantly higher in residents with informed relatives (p = .003). A broad range of forms of exercise was generally available (M ± SD 5 ± 2.22, range 0-10), but they were rarely tailored to NHRs' needs and their effectiveness remains questionable.
Conclusion:
Multidimensional opportunities to promote PA in NHRs are identified.
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