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Department of Kinesiology Professor Kimberley Gammage.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had to get a bit more creative during these pandemic lockdowns to keep older adults active,\u201d says Gammage. \u201cIt\u2019s more important than ever to be active for the physical, psychological and social benefits. This panel will provide practical advice alongside research findings that have been ongoing since July 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged last March, the team at the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being, where Gammage is Director of the SeniorFit Program, needed to figure out quickly how to offer programming online<\/a> in a way that provides members with the best experience possible.<\/p>\n In trying to determine the way forward, Applied Health Sciences graduate students were enlisted to conduct research into what, if any, online exercise programs were geared to older adults, whether there were barriers to accessing programs, and what Centre members\u2019 perceptions were of online exercise offerings.<\/p>\n Panelists Matthieu Dagenais (BSc \u201916), a PhD student in Behavioural and Population Health, and Olivia Parker (BKin \u201920), a Master of Science student in Kinesiology, will present their respective findings of these research projects.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth Matthieu and Olivia have worked in the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being and have long histories of being involved with exercise programming for older adults and teaching fitness classes,\u201d says Gammage. \u201cWhen we were trying to figure out the dos and don\u2019ts we may encounter while pivoting online, we were basically starting from ground zero with little information. Their research has helped us to focus our scope and we\u2019ll be able to make specific recommendations for practitioners in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Research findings suggest at the onset of the pandemic there were only nine studies of online exercise programs geared towards older adults.<\/p>\n \u201cThe scoping review Olivia conducted demonstrates there is not a lot out there online and not necessarily geared to older adults,\u201d says Gammage. \u201cThe assumption is that this age group is either not interested, able, willing or does not have technical capacity to participate.\u201d<\/p>\n While many older adults have reported transportation barriers and feelings of discomfort exercising in environments with others or participating in in-person social programming, online programming can offer a convenient alternative.<\/p>\n \u201cOlder adults may need more convincing, access to and training with technology, but virtual workouts are a legitimate way to stay active,\u201d says Gammage. \u201cIt\u2019s not the same socially as in person, but is certainly better than not having any option at all.\u201d<\/p>\n The preliminary research findings from Dagenais\u2019s study, which included interviews with Centre members who participated and those who did not about their perceptions of accessing online programming, is helping to identify what is working and how to make improvements.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the start, there was a lot of focus on the technology piece, but we\u2019ve also learned individuals need to have the capacity to deliver this type of programming,\u201d says Gammage. \u201cI\u2019ve taught fitness for 30 years and teaching it online is very different. We need to have people who can teach in these new formats while ensuring the safety of the older adult participants doing the exercises.\u201d<\/p>\n Transitioning to and expanding online exercise programming<\/a> provides a whole new opportunity for older adults and those with barriers to getting active to become involved in an environment they are comfortable in. It also provides gyms with new ways to engage with prospective members.<\/p>\n To learn more about the importance and benefits of exercise for older adults, research on exercise in older adults \u2014 especially at home and during COVID \u2014 and tips to safely exercise while aging, please register for the online event<\/a>.<\/p>\n The webinar is free and open to the public, but early registration is required to gain access. RSVP online<\/a> and instructions for joining the event will provided.<\/p>\n