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The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health
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The experiences of older people participating in exercise referral schemes

Aphrodite Stathi

University of Gloucestershire, School of Sport & Leisure, Oxstalls Campus, Oxstalls Lane, Gloucestershire, UK GL2 9HW, astathi{at}glos.ac.uk

James McKenna

University of Bristol, Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TP, jim.mckenna{at}bristol.ac.uk

Kenneth R Fox

University of Bristol, Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TP, K.R.Fox{at}bristol.ac.uk

Exercise referral schemes (ERS) have become a major routeway of promoting physical activity with older adults. However, there is lack of evidence regarding the views of older people and their experience from participating in ERS. The purpose of this study was to offer insights into how physical activity (PA) is situated in notions of successful ageing of people participating in ERS and to highlight points for achieving client-based targets through ERS. Thirteen community-living, retired, older adults (five females) with ages ranging from 63 to 79 who were at various stages in their referral programme were selected from three exercise referral schemes in south west England. The respondents chose to participate in either an individual or a group semi-structured interview. Findings stress that ERS clearly disrupt a lifestyle characterised by growing purposelessness and social isolation, offer older participants better physical and mental function and feelings of accomplishment and success. The participants in this study made a range of personally valued improvements through their involvement in ERS. The success of the programmes relies on the general practitioners’ recommendations, the professional help and support from enthusiastic and experienced personnel and the attractiveness of the exercise content which needs to satisfy the multiple needs of the well-being of older adults.

Key Words: exercise referral • well-being • older adults • successful ageing

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 124, No. 1, 18-23 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/146642400312400108
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