Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in a residential aged care facility

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Kinesiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sedentary behaviour and physical activity are critical determinants of health in older adults.
• Residential aged care facilities present unique challenges for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels in older adults residing in aged care.
• To compare activity patterns between residents with and without dementia.

Main Methods:

• Accelerometer data was collected from 37 residents in a single aged care facility.
• Measurements were taken over five days during waking hours.

Main Results:

• 28 participants provided valid data, showing 85% of time spent sedentary.
• Physical activity was predominantly low-intensity (12%) and light-intensity (2%), with minimal moderate-to-vigorous activity (1%).
• Sedentary bouts exceeded 30 minutes, while physical activity bouts were less than 10 minutes.

Conclusions:

• Residents exhibit significantly high levels of sedentary behaviour and low physical activity.
• The accumulation of long sedentary periods and short activity bouts highlights a critical issue.
• Novel interventions are required to effectively interrupt sedentary behaviour in aged care settings.