Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Behaviour in Older Adults With Intellectual...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Intellectual Disabilities Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) is crucial for healthy aging, especially for older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).
• Older adults with ID often face greater inactivity and health challenges compared to their peers without ID.
• Understanding barriers and facilitators to PA is key for promoting healthy lifestyles in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore personal and contextual barriers and facilitators to physical activity (PA) in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).
• To co-design PA-promoting interventions tailored to the needs of older adults with ID.
• To adapt co-design methodologies for effective engagement with older adults with ID.

Main Methods:

• A research-through-design approach was employed with six older adults with ID in a care home setting.
• Co-design methods involved older adults with ID, caregivers, and stakeholders throughout the process.
• Activities included identifying barriers/facilitators, exploring interventions, and refining co-design methods.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive list of barriers and facilitators to PA was generated, categorized by personal, program, and environmental factors.
• A prototype for a PA-stimulating intervention was developed, emphasizing modularity and adaptability.
• Key lessons were learned regarding the adaptation of co-design methods for meaningful involvement of older adults with ID.

Conclusions:

• Older adults with ID are a heterogeneous group, necessitating individualized PA interventions.
• Interventions must be adaptable to personal and contextual circumstances, with no one-size-fits-all solution.
• The study provides valuable insights into barriers, facilitators, intervention design, and co-design practices for promoting PA in this population.