Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults in Assisted Living: Residents’ Perspectives

Decreasing sedentary behavior and increasing light physical activity could
promote the maintenance of functional abilities for older adults in assisted
living (AL). The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather residents’
recommendations about a proposed self-efficacy enhancing intervention to replace
sedentary behavior with light physical activity. We interviewed 20 residents
(mean age 83.1; 60% women). Topics included their current activities and
thoughts about physical activity. We presented the intervention and asked
questions to inform its modification. Data were analyzed with content and
thematic analysis. Specific recommendations included shorter one-hour sessions
and framing the intervention as increasing light physical activity rather than
decreasing sedentary behavior. The thematic analysis identified multiple factors
that could influence intervention implementation, including motivation to be
active, safety concerns, ageist attitudes about physical activity, varying
abilities of residents, social influences, and limited opportunities for
physical activity. These results will inform physical activity intervention
implementation for AL residents.