Physical activity preferences of older home care clients

Background - Physical activity contributes to an older person's health and well-being by maintaining strength, balance and mobility, all of which are important for older people who wish to remain living in their home for as long as possible. It is therefore essential that community nurses and t...

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Main Authors: Burton, Elissa, Lewin, Gill, Boldy, Duncan
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43395
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author Burton, Elissa
Lewin, Gill
Boldy, Duncan
author_facet Burton, Elissa
Lewin, Gill
Boldy, Duncan
author_sort Burton, Elissa
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background - Physical activity contributes to an older person's health and well-being by maintaining strength, balance and mobility, all of which are important for older people who wish to remain living in their home for as long as possible. It is therefore essential that community nurses and those working with home care clients promote being physically active. To do this effectively requires an understanding of the type of physical activity older home care clients prefer to engage in. Aim - The aims of this study were to identify the physical activity preferences of older people who received a home care service and to determine whether being physically active is important to this population. Methods - Twenty older home care clients were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using a descriptive qualitative methodology. Results - Walking, housework and gardening were identified as the activities of choice. The majority of interviewees suggested that it was important to be physically active. Conclusion - Structured exercise programmes are not the activity of choice for older home care clients. Therefore, when community nurses and allied health workers promote physical activity to their clients, they should suggest activities such as walking, housework and gardening and also endorse the benefits of physical activity for well-being and staying independent. Implication for practice - Health and community nurses and organisations should routinely encourage home care clients to increase their activity levels, especially utilising those activities they most enjoy.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-433952019-02-19T05:35:05Z Physical activity preferences of older home care clients Burton, Elissa Lewin, Gill Boldy, Duncan active ageing older people exercise home and community care health promotion nursing Background - Physical activity contributes to an older person's health and well-being by maintaining strength, balance and mobility, all of which are important for older people who wish to remain living in their home for as long as possible. It is therefore essential that community nurses and those working with home care clients promote being physically active. To do this effectively requires an understanding of the type of physical activity older home care clients prefer to engage in. Aim - The aims of this study were to identify the physical activity preferences of older people who received a home care service and to determine whether being physically active is important to this population. Methods - Twenty older home care clients were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using a descriptive qualitative methodology. Results - Walking, housework and gardening were identified as the activities of choice. The majority of interviewees suggested that it was important to be physically active. Conclusion - Structured exercise programmes are not the activity of choice for older home care clients. Therefore, when community nurses and allied health workers promote physical activity to their clients, they should suggest activities such as walking, housework and gardening and also endorse the benefits of physical activity for well-being and staying independent. Implication for practice - Health and community nurses and organisations should routinely encourage home care clients to increase their activity levels, especially utilising those activities they most enjoy. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43395 10.1111/opn.12065 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. fulltext
spellingShingle active ageing
older people
exercise
home and community care
health promotion
nursing
Burton, Elissa
Lewin, Gill
Boldy, Duncan
Physical activity preferences of older home care clients
title Physical activity preferences of older home care clients
title_full Physical activity preferences of older home care clients
title_fullStr Physical activity preferences of older home care clients
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity preferences of older home care clients
title_short Physical activity preferences of older home care clients
title_sort physical activity preferences of older home care clients
topic active ageing
older people
exercise
home and community care
health promotion
nursing
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43395