Physical Activity of Older Women Living in Retirement Communities: Capturing the Whole Picture Through an Ecological Approach.

Background And Purpose: Interventions to increase physical activity among older populations may prevent or delay disability in activities of daily living and premature death. In our research, we focused on older women living independently in retirement communities, who commonly experience declining health. The purpose was to identify factors influencing physical activity in older women and to create a practical checklist to guide physical therapists in physical activity interventions within retirement communities.

Facilitators of and barriers to physical activity in retirement communities: experiences of older women in urban areas.

Background: Older people are being encouraged to be physically active for as long as possible as a preventive measure against disease and functional decline. It remains, however, uncertain how living in a retirement community affects physical activity (PA).

Objectives: This study was conducted to understand the PA experiences of older women living in retirement communities and what they experience as facilitators of and barriers to PA.