As the public health system increasingly targets older adults, the public health goal in gerontology society shifts from a traditional disease-oriented model to health promotion model. Physical activity has been recognized as one of components of promotion model in elderly population and many research show the advantage of regular physical activity for seniors. However still low proportion of older adults exercise and about one third of American seniors engage in no exercise at all in US. Thus programming in the public health should more focused on developing community-based physical activity program and supporting for seniors who wish to enhance their own health. Further, how this program is delivered and applied to the community for aging public should be a role of public health authorities. Since 1970 numerous intergenerational programs have been introduced and shown many benefits in both seniors and younger generation. In spite of many positive effects of intergenerational program, the literature relating specifically to physical activity is quite limited. Thus, the purpose of this article is to propose new intergenerational physical activity program for seniors as the health promotion perspective by investigating common components of physical activity of two different generations and possible benefits of this program. We hypothesize that a) intergenerational physical activity program may influence the attitude of preschooler and the elderly toward exercise and each generations; b) there may be sharing components of physical activity in older adults and preschooler; c) intergenerational physical activity program may influence senior's participation and maintenance of exercise.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to recognize possible new type of exercise program for the elderly in the community.
Keywords: Exercise, Aging
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: UIC student