Leisure activities and health: Conversations with isolated seniors
Abstract
Absolute and proportional numbers of older citizens are increasing. A substantial number of these citizens are effectively socially and/or physically isolated and largely inactive. There is an obvious relationship between activity of many kinds and health in the broadest sense, and no agency itself can effectively deal with all of the service-oriented issues which confront isolated seniors. Leisure, recreation and physical activity professionals are in a prime position to contribute toward enhanced quality of life for these individuals. Offering and operating effective, efficient and enjoyable activity opportunities is relatively straightforward. Identifying and attracting isolated seniors to these opportunities and fostering continued participation in leisure activities on as independent a basis as possible is much more problematic. Personal interviews conducted upon completion of a 10 week leisure activity program and again one year later confirmed the perception of isolation as a significant barrier to activity participation and that, regardless of how positively an isolated senior viewed an activity, continued and substantial assistance was necessary in order to encourage future activity participation.
Le nombre proportionnel et le nombre absolu de personnes âgées ne cessent d'augmenter. Bon nombre de ces citoyens sont victimes d'une forme quelconque d'isolement social ou physique et sont réduits à des modes de vie nettement inactifs. Mais si le lien entre l'activité sous toutes ses formes et la santé au sens large est évident, aucun organisme ne saurait à lui seul composer avec tous les problèmes de service qui confrontent les aînés isolés. Les professionnels des loisirs et de l'activité physique sont particulièrement bien placés pour aider à améliorer la qualité de vie des personnes âgées. De fait, il est relativement simple de trouver des façons de faire participer les aînés à des activités à la fois efficaces, efficientes et agréables. II est nettement plus compliqué d'identifier les aînés isolés et de les inciter à poursuivre leur participation à des activités récréatives de la façon la plus autonome possible. Des entrevues personnalisées menées à la fin d'un programme de loisirs de 10 semaines, puis un an plus tard, ont confirmé l'impression que l'isolement est un obstacle majeur à la participation. De fait, peu importe combien la personne âgée isolée semblait avoir apprécié l'activité, il fallait investir des efforts importants et soutenus pour la convaincre de continuer de participer.
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