Adapting to Aging in Place: An Assessment of Residential Living Facility Resident\u27s Frequency of Physical Activity

Village Manor is medium sized independent retirement community in rural Kentucky. When the community was built in 1995, designers did not anticipate residents’ long term physical activity needs. In order to meet the needs of current and future residents, both resident physical activity levels and their expectations were examined. The Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE) was administered (n = 23) to develop a profile of current physical activity. One focus group was held to develop themes relating to residents’ current physical activity program desires. Results showed that compared to the theoretical physical activity recommendations for this age group (mean age = 90; 83-104), resident’s current activity levels were less. At the same time, their desires for specific physical activity programs (type, length, intensity) were not being met. This presentation concludes with recommendations for fitness area enhancement to increase the likelihood of residents meeting proposed physical activity levels