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ACTIVE AGEING STRATEGY

A Sport and Recreation Queensland Initiative

ACTIVE AGEING STRATEGY INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP

Chair
Marlene Mathews
Queensland Olympic Council

Members
Ann Lear
Queensland Fitness Accreditation Confederation
Queensland Fitness and Health Association
representing Fitness Queensland

Margaret Jacobson
Brisbane City Council
representing Local Government Association of Queensland

David Speechley
Masters Swimming
representing the Masters Sport Committee of Sports Federation Queensland

Peter Cummiskey
Executive Officer
Sports Federation Queensland

Kathy Kingsford
Executive Officer
Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation

Elisabeth Drew
Marketing and Communication
Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing

Carli Pearson
Marketing and Communication
Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing

Craig Tichon
Sport and Recreation Division
Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing

Rachel Miller and Matthew Boevink
Sport and Recreation Division
Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing

Elizabeth Woods
Sport and Recreation Division
Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing

An Active Ageing Strategy Reference Group comprising representatives of seniors groups, sport and recreation organisations, and State and local government agencies has assisted the development of this strategy [Appendix Four].

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Audience

Goals

Consultation

Duration of the Strategy

Terms used

1.6 Active Australia

1.7 Health-giving physical activity

2.0 QUEENSLAND’S AGEING POPULATION

2.1 Geographic location

2.2 Ethnicity

2.3 Indigenous Queenslanders

2.4 Older Women and Men

2.5 Older people with disabilities

2.6 Diversity

3.0 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR OLDER PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE?

Health benefits

Social benefits

Economic benefits

4.0 Older Queenslanders and physical activity

Increasing levels of physical activity among seniors

Queensland seniors’ participation characteristics: outdoor recreation

Organised activity

5.0 WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO BECOME/REMAIN ACTIVE?

Health and Fitness

5.2 Personal and Social Motivators

6.0 WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION?

6.1 Physical Barriers

6.2 Barriers Related to the Family

6.3 External Barriers

6.4 Perceptions as Barriers

6.5 Barriers in Multicultural Communities

6.6 Overcoming barriers

7.0 MAJOR INITIATIVES TO ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

7.1 International Initiatives

7.2 National Initiatives

7.3 Interstate Initiatives

7.4 Queensland Initiatives

7.5 Relevant Research

8.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO PROMOTE ACTIVE AGEING

9.0 ACTIVITIES TO START IN 1999

9.1 Timeframe

9.2 Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group’s Planning Cycle

9.3 Acronyms

10.0 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

APPENDIX 1 - Major Queensland stakeholders for older adults

APPENDIX 2 - Major initiatives encouraging active ageing

APPENDIX 3 - Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group Terms of Reference

APPENDIX 4 - Active Ageing Reference Group members

Background

Queensland’s population is ageing. To support seniors to diminish the disabling effects of ageing, all sectors of the Queensland Sport and Recreation Industry: Sport, Fitness, Outdoor Recreation, Community Recreation, and Local Government and State Government agencies have worked in partnership to develop the Active Ageing Strategy which has three goals:

To increase the proportion of physically active mature aged Queenslanders;
To improve the existing recreation services and opportunities for active mature aged Queenslanders; and
To promote to all Queenslanders that they maintain an active lifestyle throughout their entire life, in part through the use of positive images of active older people.

Timeframe

The Strategy will operate for five years. It will be marked by the development of working partnerships among the industry and Government stakeholders during this period. After that time, it is hoped that the partnership arrangements and contacts between government and non-government agencies, with representative seniors’ organisations and individuals which have resulted will be integrated into normal operations.

Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group’s planning cycle

The Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group partners have planned and agreed to the activities outlined in this document for 1999. Activity monitoring will inform planning for each successive year of the partnership. Planning occurs on a financial year cycle, activities are organised on a calendar year cycle. Appendix 1 has the Terms of Reference for this Group.

Links with related initiatives

The Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing includes the Active Ageing Strategy as its policy and strategy for supporting participation in physical activity within Queensland’s draft Framework for Ageing 1999-2004. The Active Ageing Strategy is also part of Queensland’s response to the Active Australia initiative. The Active Australia goals are:

To increase and enhance lifelong participation in sport and recreation;
To develop quality infrastructure, opportunities and services to support participation in sport and recreation; and
To realise the social, health and economic benefits of participation in sport and recreation.

Links with other agencies

Through the coordination of activities for the International Year of Older Persons, the development of the draft Queensland Framework for Ageing 1999-2004 and Queensland’s commitments to Active Australia, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing is forging links with other State agencies whose goals and activities are relevant to the Active Ageing Strategy. These include: the Queensland Department of Families, Youth and Community Care; Queensland Health; Queensland Transport; Education Queensland; the Heart Foundation (Queensland Chapter); the Australian Sports Commission, and the Commonwealth Departments of Veteran’s Affairs and Health and Aged Care.

Queensland’s population is ageing, both in terms of the total number of seniors and the proportion of older Queenslanders which is rising more quickly than the State’s total population growth.

As Queenslanders live longer, they also need to remain healthy and active for longer, to optimise quality of life and minimise dependency. Strategies that help older people remain healthy, fit, active, independent and able to participate in community life are needed.

For all strategies to be effective, barriers which prevent all older people from participating fully in community life need to be addressed.

Recognising the benefits of supporting older Queenslanders to remain physically, mentally and socially active, the Queensland sport and recreation industry and related local and State Government agencies have developed the Active Ageing Strategy.

The Active Ageing Strategy document has been produced as a public record of the activities to be undertaken in partnership by different stakeholders, as a catalyst for communication and cooperation between them, their member agencies, related Federal and State government agencies and older Queenslanders both individually and as represented by seniors’ organisations.

For Commonwealth and State government agencies and Local Governments, the Strategy provides an outline of the relevant initiatives planned in Queensland for 1999 and beyond by Queensland State government agencies including the Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing and its Local Government and fitness, sport and recreation industry partners.

For fitness, sport and recreation service providers, the Strategy provides background information and Guiding Principles, which may be used to inform the future development of physical activity services for seniors.

For individual potential participants, the Strategy provides advice about the benefits of physical activity and identifies a range of existing programs and planned initiatives for their information and use.

While every attempt has been made to provide reference information, the Active Ageing Strategy is not intended to be an academic document and rigorous referencing has not been used. Rather it provides relevant background information in which the activities planned to start or occur in 1999 have their origin.

The Active Ageing Strategy aims to address three goals:

To increase the proportion of physically active mature aged Queenslanders;
To improve the existing recreation services and opportunities for active mature aged Queenslanders; and
To promote to all Queenslanders that they maintain an active lifestyle throughout their entire life, in part through the use of positive images of active older people.

The Active Ageing Strategy is a Queensland initiative. Section 7 outlines related initiatives internationally, at the national level and in the other Australian States and Territories.

Consultation has occurred with representative seniors’ organisations; sport, recreation and fitness interests; local, State and Federal government agencies and relevant tertiary institutions throughout the development of the Strategy.

Where consultation has identified gaps among the planned activities, these gaps will inform future activities of the Active Ageing Working Group.

The Active Ageing Strategy will span a five year period. The sport and recreation industry stakeholders and the Local and State government agencies that have worked as partners to develop the Strategy will continue to meet regularly and will coordinate implementation of the strategy, monitor progress and plan annually for each successive year’s activities. The activities undertaken will be monitored and evaluated against the goals. Tertiary institutions will assist in the design and conduct of monitoring processes and evaluations.

Use of the term "older" Queenslanders in the Active Ageing Strategy is deliberately broad. Different people consider themselves to be "older" at different stages of their life, and the capabilities of people vary widely as they age. In declining to impose a minimum age, greater emphasis can be placed on the concept of lifelong participation. As the Strategy begins in 1999, the International Year of Older Persons, it will focus on those aged 50 years and older in its first year.

The Active Ageing Strategy draws on the World Health Organisation’s definition of health. ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ It mentions "health-giving physical activity" and acknowledges that although the emphasis is on lifelong physical activity, overall feelings of wellbeing are enhanced through social and intellectual stimulation. While involvement in physical activity can provide this stimulation, mental and social stimulation are important in themselves and may become the stepping stones to increased physical activity. Thus, in this document, use of the word "activity" implies involvement in social, intellectual and physical activities generally, although the main objective of the Strategy is to encourage a greater proportion of older Queenslanders to incorporate health-giving physical activity into their daily routine.

The Active Ageing Strategy is directly linked to Active Australia, a national physical activity participation initiative, that has been developed and implemented at national, state, regional and local levels throughout Australia. The Active Australia goals are similar to the goals of the Active Ageing Strategy. They are:

To increase and enhance lifelong participation in sport and recreation;
To develop quality infrastructure, opportunities and services to support participation in sport and recreation; and
To realise the social, health and economic benefits of participation in sport and recreation.

Active Australia interprets health-giving physical activity as thirty minutes of moderate exercise sufficient to raise the heart rate on most days.

Research has demonstrated that cumulative exercise throughout each day is almost as beneficial as exercising for thirty minutes continuously. Physical activity incidental to everyday events such as walking to the bus-stop or the shops, gardening, yard work or taking the stairs, is sufficient to obtain a health benefit even when performed in ten-minute bursts. Active Australia adopted this benchmark activity level from the US Surgeon-General's 1996 report into Physical Activity.

As many people as possible should strive to achieve this level of health-giving physical activity as a minimum, remembering that activity:

is best if it is at a moderate intensity,
should add up to thirty minutes on most days,
can occur in ten-minute bursts and may be cumulative,
should raise the heart rate, thus causing one to puff and pant, while it is still possible to talk.

For the individual, a wide range of physical activities is preferable, involving different people, places and types of involvement such as participant, leader, coach or voluntary supporter.

It is our responsibility as a community to develop and support strategies that ensure older people remain healthy, fit, active, independent and contributing members of our society.

References

US Department of Health and Human Services: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention 1996 US Surgeon General’s Report: Physical Activity and Health

The number and proportion of older Queenslanders is increasing. In 1996, the Australian Bureau of Statistics counted 816,400 Queenslanders who were aged fifty and over. They represented 25% of the total State population at the time. By the year 2011, this figure is anticipated to increase to make up a third of the State’s population.

Those over sixty years of age numbered 526,700 or 16% of the total population in Queensland in 1996 and this group is expected to grow to a quarter of the population by 2031.

To maintain high levels of physical activity among this age group will require sound planning because Queensland is a large and decentralised State, and older people congregate in specific locations. The Gold Coast region has more elderly residents than any other region in Queensland. In 1996, 65% of people aged 60 and over lived in the Brisbane and Moreton Statistical Divisions covering the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Brisbane City. The Wide Bay/Burnett region was next, claiming over 8% of residents older than 60 years. Rural areas have lower proportions of older residents generally, but experience proportional ageing as younger residents drift to urban centres. This is the case with Mt Morgan which had the highest proportion (19.7%) of people aged 65 years and over, of all Queensland Local Governments, in 1996. Other centres with high proportions of this 65 years and over group in their population include Redcliffe (18.8%), Caloundra (17.1%), Hervey Bay (16.9%), Maryborough (16.2%) Bundaberg (15.4%), Atherton (14.8%) and Warwick (14.4%).

The dispersed geographic distribution of older Queenslanders and issues facing older people living in rural areas need to influence the future provision of physical activity services.

Owing to the post World War II waves of migration to Australia and the average age of these migrants at the time, the proportion of older people in some ethnic communities is significantly higher than the national and State averages. At the last Census in 1996, 24% of all Queenslanders aged 60 and over had been born overseas, with almost 44% of these from non-English speaking countries. At that time, over 6% of people in that age group who did not usually speak English at home reported they spoke English poorly or not at all. It is estimated that by 2001, one in four older Australians will come from a non-English speaking background. Planned services will need to be culturally appropriate and account for language and other cultural barriers as lack of language ability and dependency on children can affect the capacity of elderly immigrants to participate in physical activity.

In 1996, only 4.2% of the Indigenous population was aged 60 years and over compared with 16% of the State’s population. This difference results from the lower life expectancy of Indigenous people throughout Australia, with the major causes being the higher incidence among Indigenous people than in the non-Indigenous population of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems and injury. Physical activity has been proven effective in addressing these health conditions. Indigenous communities should be encouraged to develop strategies appropriate to their culture and lifestyles which will promote healthy levels of physical activity.

Women live longer than men. Life expectancy for Australian women is 81 years while for men it is 75 years. Therefore as women grow older, females are in higher proportions than males within each age group. Preventative strategies need to focus on increasing men's life expectancy. However until the pattern changes, planning of services will need to account for this characteristic imbalance.

The incidence of disability increases with advancing age. People whose disability results in some limitation to perform certain tasks associated with daily living are considered to have a handicap. Therefore, the incidence of handicap also increases with age among older Queenslanders as their disabilities affect self care and mobility. Increasing levels of disability and handicap add to the factors which make older people a very diverse group for whom to plan services.

Older adults are by no means an homogenous group. Older people’s backgrounds, living arrangements, living conditions, families and incomes vary as greatly as all other sections of the population. In addition, as we age our health status and functional ability introduces increasing diversity.

It is vital to develop and implement physical activity strategies which are responsive to the diverse needs of an ageing population, so that the benefits of physical activity can be experienced by the greatest number of older Queenslanders.

References

Anon 1998 Active Australia International Year of Older Persons Project – Creative Brief

Australian Sports Commission 1997 Active Australia: A National Participation Framework

Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996 Census of Population and Housing

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4430.0 Disability, Ageing and Carers 1993

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4371.0 National Health Survey, Australia 1995

Australian Bureau of Statistics 3222.0 The Health and Welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples 1997

Queensland Department of Local Government and Planning, incorporating Rural Communities 1998 1996 Census Report Queensland

Queensland Department of Communications, Local Government and Planning 1998 Population Projections for Queensland
Queensland Office of Ageing 1998 Consultation Paper for A Queensland Framework for Ageing 1999-2004

Physical activity has a wide range of health, social and associated economic benefits for Queenslanders that can only contribute to their overall well-being.

Older people who are not sufficiently physically active, miss out on health benefits. People who have been fit and active in early adult life do not retain the benefits offered by physical activity if they become sedentary as they age. But for those who have been inactive in their youth, it is never too late to become physically active to gain a significant health benefit.

For example, moderate levels of regular aerobic activity improve coronary risk factors such as percentage of body fat, blood lipids and blood pressure and so lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, disability and death.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke are leading causes of death in Australia, representing some 44% of all deaths, or 55,000 deaths per annum. Studies in the United States have shown that middle aged and older men beginning moderately vigorous physical activity significantly improved their life expectancy (as well as reducing coronary heart disease) even when other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and being overweight were present. In Australia, it is estimated that for each additional 10% of the population that engages in regular, moderate physical activity at appropriate frequencies, there will be a reduction of 5% in the risk of heart disease. Thirty accumulated minutes of moderate exercise undertaken regularly can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 50%. However a continuous thirty minute program of exercise undertaken regularly can reduce the risk by 70%. The optimum function and structure of muscles, joints, the heart and blood vessels are also preserved by regular physical activity.

Among the 40% of the Australian population aged 40 and over, 38% are overweight or obese and 31% suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). Alarmingly, the incidence of overweight and obesity is higher among younger people. Among Australians and Queenslanders aged 15 years and over, 43% are overweight or obese. Unless these people increase their levels of physical activity, it is unlikely that most 15 to 40 year olds will lose their extra weight, so their dependence on health services is likely to increase as they age.

Moderate, rhythmic physical activity appears to reduce the risk of diabetes among the middle aged whether or not they are obese and physical activity for those already with diabetes diminishes reliance on drugs and injections.

It can also set back the age at which deterioration of physical capacities occurs by ten to twenty years, thus delaying, compressing or eliminating the periods of infirmity or a dependent lifestyle that would otherwise result. Recent evidence from Huang and others shows that active older adults have the daily physical functioning equivalent to less active people aged 15 years younger. Other research using mature aged athletes has indicated their fitness levels are equivalent to those of people 30 to 50 years younger.

Regular activity can slow many forms of physical decline by up to 50%, increase the likelihood of early detection of disease, ensure a more rapid recovery following serious illness, optimise the functioning of the immune system and offer protection from serious ailments.

The risk of dying from specific cancers particularly in the colon, breast and lungs, is reduced with regular physical activity.

Regular physical activity that includes the strengthening of abdominal muscles can play a major role in the prevention and rehabilitation of lower back pain that afflicts up to 80% of Australians at some stage in their lives. Physically active people are 50% less likely to experience lower back pain than those who are sedentary.

Many older people, particularly women, suffer from easily broken bones due to the mineral loss from osteoporosis which affects 25% of postmenopausal women. Moderate weight or resistance training has been shown to benefit bone mineral density in perimenopausal women. Bone strength can be improved in middle age by weight bearing exercise and should be maintained into old age. Also, people who engage in outdoor activity have shown lower prevalence of hip fracture than those who do not. A sedentary lifestyle appears to increase the risk of hip fractures.

Regular physical activity aids endurance, flexibility, motor coordination and confidence in physical abilities, preserves physical balance and so reduces the fear of falling. That it improves balance which with muscle strength and osteoporosis are the three most important risk factors for the severity of falls, is particularly important since falls are a common cause of broken bones and injury to older people. They result in death, long-term disability, loss of confidence and institutionalisation.

Regular physical activity is associated with 40% decreased risk of losing mobility for older people as it helps control the swelling of joints and reduces the pain associated with arthritis.

Physical activity improves energy levels and contributes to mental health by reducing stress and depression. Active people also show a greater level of health awareness, are more likely to eat healthily and are less likely to smoke.

For many older people, social interaction is the main motivation for being active. The social support of family and friends has been consistently and positively related to regular involvement in physical activity. Shared participation enhances both family and non-family support networks, strengthens the social fabric, increasing community self-reliance and identity and reducing anti-social behaviour and social isolation.

As group activities increase seniors’ sense of community, activity outside the home builds stronger community connections that may in turn improve the functioning of both the community and the individual. This is especially important for the many older people who may be learning to live without the company of a long-term companion or adjusting to changes in other aspects of their lives.

As well as involving people in community life, an active lifestyle can help build understanding between cultures and reduce isolation, loneliness and alienation often experienced where different cultures blend.

Studies have shown that active students produce better academic results than their non-active peers, and display improvements in concentration, memory and learning skills, creativity, problem solving and moods for up to two hours following exercise. There is no reason why older people cannot experience such benefits as well.

In addition, older people can obtain psychological benefits through physical activity, like enhanced self-esteem, improved overall self-concept, increased personal confidence, greater development of self-awareness and more self-discipline.

It is difficult to exactly determine the total economic benefits that would flow from an increased number of active older people. That they would lessen the dependence on both the public health system and on their immediate families is evident from the health and social benefits listed above. Although it does not provide specific seniors’ information, the Active Australia Participation Framework includes the following public savings estimates:

It is estimated that the effect of an additional 40% of the Australian population undertaking regular, moderate and effective exercise would result in a net benefit of $6.5 million each day in addition to reducing the costs associated with heart disease, lower back pain, absenteeism and lowered workplace productivity.

A potential saving of $103.75 million annually from the prevention of heart disease (one of the highest contributors to hospital costs of all major disease categories) reducing costs related to the use of hospitals, ambulances, pharmaceutical and medical services.

$244 million in direct costs was attributable to back pain in 1985, and when combined with indirect costs such as days of home rest, the total cost was calculated at $2.67 million each day. A reduction in the incidence of lower back pain by 5% could save $48.8 million for each extra 10% of the population who are active.

Although there are patchy data about the economic costs associated with injuries sustained during exercise, the gains from physical activity must be offset against the potential costs of injury and death during exercise. It has been calculated that injuries resulting from an increased proportion of active Australians would cost the community $2 million per additional 10%. However, this is compared with the net benefit of $590.2 million that would be saved if another 10% of the population became more active, far outweighing the economic costs of exercise-induced injury and sudden death. Moreover, increased activity need not result in increased rates of injury and the associated costs, if appropriate injury prevention strategies are incorporated into exercise programs.

Increases in the proportion of active people can have other spin-offs such as benefiting the tourism, manufacturing and commerce sectors, providing jobs, and increasing productivity through reduced absenteeism.

Most people do not need to consult their doctor before starting a program of moderate intensity physical activity. However men over 35 and women over 45 years or those with chronic disease or risk factors for chronic disease wishing to start exercise, should see their doctor first to determine a safe, effective program for their age and condition.

References

Anon 1998 Active Australia International Year of Older Persons Project – Creative Brief

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4371.0 National Health Survey 1995

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4371.0 National Health Survey 1985

Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996 Census of Population and Housing

NSW Health Department 1996 Physical Activity and Health; a special communication from the Chief Health Officer, 2^nd edition

US Department of Health and Human Services: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention 1996 US Surgeon General’s Report: Physical Activity and Health

Huang Y, Macera CA, Blair SN, Brill PA, Kohl HWIII, Kronenfeld JJ 1998 "Physical fitness, physical activity, and functional limitation in adults aged 40 and older" Medical Science Sports Exercise 30: 1430-1435

More than a third (35.8%) of Queenslanders aged 55 to 64 years and 21.3% of those 65 years and older participated in physical activities including sport and fitness activities in 1997/98 (Table 1, Figure 1). This figure does not include the numbers of people of these ages who may have walked, jogged or run casually during that year. So, although the participation rate declines with age and could lead us to conclude that many older people have absorbed existing stereotypes of ageing and ‘slowed down’ to fit community expectations, the proportions of active older people could be quite high.

Table 1: Proportion of Australians participating in sport,and physical activities, 1997-98 [ABS data]

Also contrary to expectations is the current seniors and baby boomer generation’s view of retirement. It is no longer seen as an opportunity to 'slow down' or 'take a well-earned break'. Rather, as the oldest boomers approach retirement, they are continuing to dominate leisure expenditure and their focus is increasingly on adventure activities such as guided tours which take in white-water rafting, hot air ballooning and horse treks. Both current retirees and those baby boomers born between 1944 and 1964, are now challenging long-held expectations and misconceptions about ageing.

Participation levels in physical activity are showing that those who are now 50 years and over may intend to be much more active than previous generations of older people. In 1997, 51.2% of Australians aged 45 – 59 years participated in at least 150 minutes of general physical activity weekly; while 41.7% of this age group was engaged in five sessions totalling at least 150 minutes per week. For those aged 60 and over, the participation rates were slightly higher or almost the same (52% in 150 minutes of activity weekly and 41.6% in five sessions totalling 150 minutes per week).

However, older Queenslanders are not as active as their cohorts in other States. Since State by State comparisons show that in most other Australian States physical activity participation rates across all age groups are higher, there is a greater need for Queensland agencies to focus on developing life-long patterns of involvement in physical activity and to modify existing services to attract seniors’ participation.

Although no State by State or Queensland-wide information is available, it is clear older residents of the three major Local Governments (Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich City Councils) of South-East Queensland are active participants in outdoor recreation pursuits. In 1997, between two-thirds and half those residents older than 55 years enjoyed picnicking, walking and nature study (Figure 2). At least 13% of residents over 55 years rode in motorised watercraft, drove two wheel drive vehicles on unsealed roads and swam in water other than constructed pools. Upwards of 9% of South East Queenslanders over 55 drove four wheel drive vehicles on unsealed roads, more than 5% rode in non-motorised water craft and 4% rode bicycles. Some older Queenslanders also went horse riding, camping, abseiling and rock climbing.

Older Queenslanders’ involvement in organised physical activities and sport is lower than that of other age groups (Table 2, Figure 3).

Table 2: Proportion of Australians participating in organised sport, recreation & fitness activities, 1996-97 [ABS Population Survey Monitor]

However older people’s organised participation patterns are similar to younger age groups. More males than females participate, country residents’ participation rates are higher than city residents and more Australian-born people are involved in organised activity (Tables 3, 4 and
Figures 4, 5).

Table 3: Comparison between proportions of Australians participating in organised sport, recreation & fitness activities, Residents of capital city & the rest of State, 1996-97 [ABS Population Survey Monitor]

Better information on all forms of physical activity is needed, however the apparent significantly lower participation levels among females, "other country of birth" Australians and city dwellers need to be addressed in future strategies.

According to 1996-97 participation statistics for involvement in activities organised by a club or centre, and not the respondent’s total level of physical activity, only 29.7% of Queenslanders aged 15 years or older participate in one or more organised activity (33.2% of males and 26.2% of females) (Table 5, Figure 3). This figure seems low, and may identify that more seniors prefer activities which are not competitive, do not require firm commitments or which they organise themselves.

Table 5: Proportion of Queenslanders participating in organised sport, recreation & fitness activities, 1996-97 [ABS Population Survey Monitor]

For all Australians in 1996/97, the most popular activities not organised through a club, association or school included swimming, fishing, cycling, aerobics and tennis. Unfortunately, age-specific comparative information on seniors’ (that is those aged 50 years and over) preferred organised and non-organised activities is not readily available. However, the organised activities that attracted most participants among older Australians aged 45 and over in 1996-97 are listed in Table 6 and Figure 6. The most popular of these are golf, lawn bowls, tennis, aerobics and fishing in order.

Table 6: Numbers of Australian participants in the most popular organised activities for those aged 45 years and over in 1996-97 [ABS Population Survey Monitor]

The 1995 National Health Survey confirms an apparent truism: that disability increases with age. It found that 95% of persons aged over 65 suffer from a long-term medical condition. Strategies must focus on encouraging the greatest number of seniors to maintain health-giving levels of physical activity since the 1995 survey also found that persons over 65 who do little or no exercise report most illnesses. As stated previously, other research indicates a sedentary lifestyle accounts for at least 50% of age-related decline in aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, balance and reaction time.
In addition, the tendency for people to participate in activities that are purposeful, involve their families and friends and with which they are most comfortable, must be used in developing ways to encourage seniors’ future involvement in physical activity.

References

Abernethy, M ‘Boom, Baby, Boom’ in The Bulletin 26 January 1999 pp12-15

Anon The South East Queensland Outdoor Recreation Demand Study 1997

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4177.0 Participation in Sport and Physical Activities, 1996-97

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4177.0 Participation in Sport and Physical Activities, 1997-98

Australian Bureau of Statistics 4364.0 National Health Survey, 1995

 

Recent research investigating the motivations of older people’s involvement in physical activity found the main ‘drivers’ of physical activity were health or fitness; personal benefits; social or family contact; and usefulness of the activity.

Research completed following the 1994 World Masters Games in Brisbane suggested that a major reason for the involvement of many masters sport participants is social interaction. In New Zealand, a similar study of masters swimmers showed their major motivations for participation were fun, enjoyment, love of the sport, health and fitness, social contact, friendship, personal challenge and the sense of achievement and skill improvement.

Although some people fear injury or illness as a result of physical activity, most recognise the role exercise plays in promoting health and preventing illness, especially if they have experienced a serious health problem. For instance, the health benefits of exercise can be a motivating factor for people surviving heart conditions.

Older people no longer feel immortal, so health messages start to have more impact. The benefits of exercise in maintaining muscle strength and mobility, preventing osteoporosis and sustaining mental acuity are more relevant. For those who feel fit and healthy, the aim is to stave off any decline. And the therapeutic benefits of exercise are perceived by those starting to suffer stiffness, joint problems and other health conditions. Some fear limits on their quality of life and independence, so aim to remain sufficiently fit and healthy to enjoy their old age.

General Practitioners (GPs) are in a strong position to encourage active behaviour. The 1983 Canada Fitness Survey found that following a doctor's advice was an important motivator to exercise in older respondents. From a public health standpoint, the 1980s can be considered a missed opportunity, as this survey showed that 43% of inactive adults claimed that positive advice from a doctor would have increased their involvement in sport. More work and training needs to occur with doctors to ensure that they take a greater role in the prescription of exercise.

Nevertheless, even when older people perceive and attach value to the benefits of physical activity or acknowledge their GP’s influence, these may not be sufficient to motivate regular participation.

As well as fun, enjoyment and doing something for themselves, some use exercise to boost self-esteem and self-perceptions, as a distraction from worries and concerns and to gain the sense of personal achievement that accompanies regular exercise.

The opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of others’ company is particularly important in encouraging older adults, especially women, to participate in physical activity. This may be achieved through the social commitment to a partner, a friend or group; being part of a club or group; joining family members particularly grandchildren; or the social interaction obtained through organised activities.

Focus groups involving older people from diverse cultural backgrounds identify a particular need for the encouragement and company of their families to begin and effectively keep up an active involvement in sport and recreation.

Responses from older men indicate purposeful exercise is important. Such activities include housework, gardening, community service, learning new skills or keeping one’s mind alert.

Other factors that influence participation by older people are:

Health status – those who are healthier exercise more and so remain healthier
Socio-economic status – more affluent seniors tend to exercise more
Education levels – better educated people are more likely to exercise regularly
Availability and proximity of suitable and enjoyable activities and/or facilities – lack of transport or isolation can be major issues for older people
Positive role models can be a motivating factor. Linked to this is ensuring people do not consider themselves "too old" to try a particular activity.

In order to attract and retain the involvement of older Queenslanders, these motivating factors must be acknowledged and incorporated into the provision of suitably flexible services and recreational opportunities. People of any age are more likely to continue being active if they are made aware of the personal and health benefits, if activities enable families and friends to take part, and if they live and/or work in a supportive environment.

References

Anon 1998 Active Australia International Year of Older Persons Project – Creative Brief

Dishman, Rod (ed.) 1994. Advances in Exercise Adherence. (Human Kinetics)

What may be a motivation for some people, can be a barrier to others. For example, many people take part in Masters Games sporting events because they enjoy testing themselves against their peers, whereas for others, the competitive nature of some activities is the reason they stopped their involvement in the first place.

As with other age groups, some of the barriers to participation for older people are physical: declining physical power; ill health or a physical disability such as joint stiffness or arthritis, acute or chronic illness, limited sight or hearing; fear of pain (from conditions such as arthritis), fear of injury or death; and lack of physical confidence to learn new skills or revive old ones, or a decline in physical ability.

The motivation to continue sedentary behaviour may be quite strong for some of the more frail in our community because some care givers may dissuade significant involvement in exercise. While a doctor's advice may strongly encourage sedentary adults to engage in physical activity, the support of family and friends is even more persuasive. Some of the more frail in our community feel they have passed the age for engaging in exercise, and their involvement or input would not be valued, or they are bound by the expectations of those around them to behave in a certain way. Through encouragement and support they can learn to break free from the stereotypes currently dictating their lifestyles and levels of activity.

Some older people have conditions which would make some activities uncomfortable, or even threatening to their health. For these reasons, seeking medical advice before embarking on an exercise program is desirable for older people, particularly those who are frail.

Other barriers are more family based. Barriers can include a change in a partner’s fitness, mobility or health. Family responsibilities and commitments like babysitting, caring duties, or social and cultural deterrents such as the expectation that parents, particularly mothers, should provide opportunities for their children at the expense of their own leisure time, can also limit participation.

Social and environmental factors can deter participation. These include poverty or a lack of disposable income; lack of opportunity either through social or physical isolation, lack of or limited access to facilities or services, perhaps simply because of a lacking awareness of what is available; lack of appropriately trained leaders, available transport; or the absence of a suitable companion. Middle aged men perceive a lack of time because of work pressures, or other competing interests as their main deterrent to participation. A perceived lack of time even after retirement can be a barrier to participation among older men and women.

Recent research has identified that middle aged men particularly, may need some simple information about safe and appropriate forms of physical activity. Older men may perceive that the activity levels needed to produce a health benefit are higher than their comfort levels and this may deter their involvement.

Perceptions of physical activity choices like walking, jogging, swimming, working out on an exercise bike or treadmill at home, as solitary and repetitive and therefore boring, may also deter activity. All age groups become much more excited by activities outside this spectrum such as Tai Chi, line dancing, canoeing, windsurfing.

In addition, perceptions of what is involved with different activities may pose a barrier to involvement. For instance, ‘physical activity’ is generally interpreted broadly, including activities that are a part of everyday life both at work and at home; whereas ‘sport’ is perceived as serious, requiring higher levels of skill and commitment than other activities; and ‘exercise’ implies more specific, purposeful activity that (in the minds of older people) requires higher levels of exertion.

Nearly one quarter of older Australians come from a non-English speaking background and for these, language as well as a lack of opportunity to participate in activities that are traditional or acceptable to their culture may be barriers. Many lack the confidence and motivation to try activities that are more traditional to the Australian culture with which they may have had little experience. Many also experience a perceived (or real) feeling that service providers are not interested in their membership and are not willing to adjust their service to better cater for the needs of overseas-born Australians.

Organisations wishing to offer quality services need to recognise these barriers, and identify any other impediments that may be preventing older members of our community from becoming involved.

Where possible, programs need to emphasise the emotional rewards of fun, enjoyment and sociability, with exercise the outcome of the activity rather than the purpose. Opportunities for physical activity need to be better integrated into people’s everyday social, family and working lives.

Programs for older people need to offer basic information about safe and appropriate forms of physical activity. As we age our abilities become more diverse, not more similar, so that programming for all older persons together under the "seniors" tag is not always appropriate. Programs catering to a range of interests and abilities are needed so that the requirements of individuals are satisfied regardless of their capabilities, skills or age.

That women influence men’s attitudes to health and body image more than men acknowledge can be used in the promotion of programs. However future development of programs should encourage men to take responsibility for their own health and body image.

Women need to be offered programs that build their confidence in their ability to exercise, perhaps by making older women aware that moderate exercise can produce health benefits. Older women may more willingly participate in activities in environments where they feel secure and comfortable; where there is privacy in changing facilities; where older instructors provide special classes.

Government funding has traditionally funded sporting, rather than recreational activities, so that although there are many sports fields, these tend to be utilised by younger people involved in organised team sports. State Government has begun to examine its funding of facilities to cater better for all community members’ involvement in community and outdoor recreation. Greater emphasis is now placed on developing fitness trails, bike paths, indoor pools etc that cater for a broader range of activities and all segments of the population. Strategies that encourage older people to utilise existing sporting facilities more, may also be required.

References

Anon 1998 Active Australia International Year of Older Persons Project – Creative Brief

Dishman, Rod (Ed.) 1994. Advances in Exercise Adherence. (Human Kinetics)

 

Queensland is not alone in its development and implementation of programs encouraging a greater proportion of the general population to be active. Similar programs have been, or are in the process of being developed and implemented at the international, national, state and local levels. Several of these key research projects and strategies offer relevant approaches for developing opportunities for fitness, sport and recreation participation by older adults in Australia. Appendix 3 contains descriptions of the initiatives and research projects listed below. Contact telephone numbers are also provided in Appendix 3 for initiatives relevant to Queenslanders.

World Health Organisation Global Initiative on Active Living

Eurolink Age and Ageing Well – Europe

Community Action Program on Health Promotion - Europe

Mass Participation Programs – Various Countries:

Ready, Set, It's Everywhere You Go (the United States)
Active for Life (the United Kingdom)
Active Living (Canada)
A New Zealand project

Actively Ageing – A Resource for Masters and Veterans Sport – New Zealand

Active Australia

Acting on Australia’s Weight

Supportive Environments for Physical Activity

Older Australians: Promoting Health and Well-being

Women in Sport and Recreation Strategy 1996-2001

Never Too Late: Think Active, Be Active and Enjoy Life

Play On: The Report of the Masters Sport Project on Mature Aged Sport in Australia

Better Health Outcomes for all Australians – Report by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council

National Healthy Ageing Strategy

Inquiry into Planning for Positive Ageing – Victoria

Active for Life - Victoria

Physical Activity Taskforce – New South Wales

Physical Activity Taskforce – Western Australia

Everyone’s Future – Queensland’s Forward Plan on Ageing

Just Walk It – Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing

The 60 and Better Program – Queensland Health

GOLD! – Growing Old and Living Dangerously Program – Brisbane City Council

Walking for Pleasure, Healthy Heart Walks and Mall Walking Programs

Seniors Week

Seniors Games

Queensland Keep Fit Challenge Week - Queensland Keep Fit Association

Asia Pacific Masters Games (ASPAC)

Older and Wiser Program – Queensland Ambulance Service

CPR 2000 - Queensland Ambulance Service

Voluntary Group Participation by Third Age Australians

"Not over the hill. Just enjoying the view." - Seniors Card, Department of Families, Youth and Community Care.

The Guiding Principles are intended to help organisations and businesses improve their approach to encouraging and supporting participation by seniors.

A sporting, fitness, recreation or Local Government organisation which encourages and supports active ageing is one which:

encourages and supports life-long participation by promoting a variety of programs and services that cater for all clients/members regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, ability or physical capabilities.

understands the barriers older people face in becoming/remaining active, and works with new, current and potential members to overcome them. This will include ensuring a friendly, welcoming and supportive atmosphere, and overcoming access, health and safety issues.

understands that we live in a diverse community and caters for and supports every individual by providing opportunities for all older people to become and remain active.

gathers regular feedback from its older clients/members and designs quality activities, products and services to cater for the diverse preferences, motivations, characteristics and circumstances of older people in a variety of ways.

values its older clients/members/employees for the diversity, knowledge, experience and expertise they bring to the organisation, and encourages their involvement in all activities, both paid and unpaid.

acknowledges and incorporates the needs of older clients/members/employees by involving them in planning processes to ensure that their needs are met in an ongoing capacity.

Promotion/Advocacy

ensures that any promotional material contains positive, active images of older people enjoying a range of activities, and promotes the benefits of lifelong participation by dispelling the myths relating to physical activity.

encourages its clients/members/employees to value the contributions of older clients/members/employees to the organisation. This also allows the organisation to regularly express its appreciation for those contributions.

educates its clients/members/employees to be aware of their attitudes and language when interacting with older people.

works with potential clients to identify appropriate promotional strategies for programs and services targeting older people.

The Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group partners have planned and agreed to most of the activities outlined in this document for 1999. The Active Ageing Strategy activities that will start in 1999 appear in tables for Goals One, Two and Three in this section. Some activities begun in 1999 will continue beyond this year.

The other activities included in this section are the responses by Queensland State government agencies other than the Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing to issues relating to older people’s participation in society, generally which also relate to seniors’ physical activity participation.

The Strategy will operate for five years. It will be marked by the development of working partnerships among the fitness, sport and recreation industry and Commonwealth, State and Local Government stakeholders during this period. After that time, it is hoped that the partnership arrangements and contacts between government and non-government agencies, representative seniors’ organisations and individuals which have resulted will be integrated into normal operations.

Ongoing consultation with stakeholders and activity monitoring will inform planning for each successive year of the five-year partnership. Planning will occur on a financial year cycle, activities will be organised on a calendar year cycle. Appendix 1 has the Terms of Reference for the Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group.

A list of acronyms is provided below to help identify stakeholders to be involved in the activities.
The 'Who responsible' column identifies which agency will drive the activity. 'Partners' include those agencies which have agreed to provide advice or assistance.

ACRONYMS

AAWG Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group
AAMESubCommittee Active Australia Monitoring and Evaluation Sub Committee
AAMERG Active Australia Monitoring and Evaluation Research Group
AMAQ Australian Medical Association Queensland
ASC Australian Sports Commission
BCC Brisbane City Council
DTSR Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing
Families Department of Families, Youth and Community Care
FQAAC Fitness Queensland Active Ageing Committee
GOLD! Growing Old Living Dangerously
IPA Integrated Planning Act
IYOP International Year of Older Persons
IYOP Secretariat International Year of Older Persons Secretariat
LIROP Local Indigenous Recreation Officer Program
LGAQ Local Government Association Queensland
LGROPP Local Government Recreation Officers Pilot Program
QDGP Queensland Divisions of General Practitioners
QFAC Queensland Fitness Accreditation Confederation
QFHA Queensland Fitness and Health Association
QKFA Queensland Keep Fit Association
Q Health Queensland Health
QORF Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation
QPAT Queensland Physical Activity Taskforce
RSISG Recreation and Sport Industry Statistics Group
RSL Returned Services League
SFQ Sports Federation Queensland
SRD Sport and Recreation Division, Department Tourism, Sport and Racing
SRIS Sport and Recreation Information System
SWISR Sub-committee for Women in Sport and Recreation

Goal One: To increase the proportion of physically active mature aged Queenslanders by encouraging older Queenslanders to lead a more active life.

This goal will be achieved by addressing the following objectives:
To establish formal partnerships between related agencies to facilitate collaboration on increasing seniors’ active participation;
To provide specific opportunities for mature aged Queenslanders to engage in physical activity;
To develop programs and resources based on identified needs and activity preferences to encourage higher participation by seniors;
To develop data collections and monitoring and evaluation systems to establish benchmarks and measure changes in current patterns.

Goal Two: To improve the existing recreation services, opportunities and environments for active mature aged Queenslanders.

This goal will be achieved addressing the following objectives: -
To establish formal partnerships between related agencies to facilitate collaboration and so improve service for seniors; and
To inform the recreation industry of the needs of older Queenslanders and the benefits for the industry in meeting those needs.

Goal Three: To promote the concept to all Queenslanders that they should maintain an active lifestyle throughout their entire lives in part by countering the stereotypes of older people and exercise.

This goal will be achieved addressing the following objectives:-
To educate Queenslanders about why physical activity is important, how much activity is necessary to achieve a health benefit, and how to incorporate activity into each day;
To ensure that both the Active Australia public education and the publications (and media articles) of industry stakeholders contain positive images of active older people.

The Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing is responsible for establishing a coordinated system to monitor and evaluate progress in achieving the goals of the Active Ageing Strategy from 1999 to 2003.

For each activity in this document agreed to by the Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group, available benchmarks have been identified, performance measures have been determined and targets have been set. These performance measures and targets have not been included in this document in the interests of brevity. The Active Ageing Industry and Government Working Group partners will reconvene every two months, review achievements, identify issues and needs, progressively modify current activities and plan the forthcoming year’s activities.

The Department will work with the Active Australia Monitoring and Evaluation Sub Committee of the Active Australia Management Board within the Australian Sports Commission and other relevant agencies to set up a technical working group which will guide the development of performance monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure that:

participation by seniors in physical activity may be regularly measured and monitored;
services which aim to encourage seniors' participation in physical activity may be evaluated for their effectiveness; and
promotion and education strategies which aim to increase seniors' awareness of the benefits of and opportunities for physical activity are evaluated for their impact.

 

APPENDIX 1 - Major Queensland stakeholders for older adults

The Queensland Office of Ageing
The Office of Ageing, within the Department of Families, Youth and Community Care, promotes opportunities for choice and independence for older Queenslanders through its lead agency role in coordinating policy on ageing issues across government departments. The office promotes positive, realistic images of older people and growing older, develops and implements programs that promote positive images of older people, and raises awareness of ageing issues in the wider community. The Office of Ageing also administers the Seniors Card which provides access to State Government Concessions including transport and business discounts to 380,000 older Queenslanders as a healthy ageing initiative.

Council on the Ageing
COTA Queensland was established to protect and promote the well being of all older people through consultation with Government agencies, coordination and management of human services projects and the provision of information, education and advocacy advice. COTA also supports and contributes to research projects relevant to the present and future needs of older people. COTA is part of a national movement through the Council of the Ageing (Australia) and its members include seniors organisations, individuals over fifty years of age, service providers and Local Governments.

Senior Citizens Clubs and Centres
The 179 Senior Citizens Clubs and Centres throughout Queensland (many with their own facilities) have memberships ranging from ten to eight hundred. Traditionally, clubs offer programs such as indoor bowls, cards, gentle exercise, dancing, billiards and arts and crafts.

The Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League
As a lobby group for older people, the Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League works to improve the image of older Australians in the wider community, disseminate information to members, identify the needs of older Australians and develop appropriate community programs and services to meet those needs. The organisation is run by volunteers and competes with a number of other groups for membership, including RSL Clubs, that offer similar services cheaply, with the added attraction of gaming machines. This organisation is finding it harder to find sufficient volunteers to staff their services, including their walking program.

The Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League coordinated and promoted Seniors Week in 1998 and will coordinate Seniors Week in both 1999 and 2000.

Older Women’s Network
Established in Brisbane in 1992, OWN focuses on the needs of older women and supports the establishment of activity groups, offers health promotion and personal development courses, and takes on an advocacy role for older women. OWN's aims are to "Encourage life enrichment, mutual support and companionship amongst older women; promote discussion and action about ageism and sexism; lobby for a fairer deal for issues affecting older women; provide information and education; and enhance the positive image of older women. Some of the strategies employed by OWN to achieve these ends are Women Growing Older Programs, an OWN Theatre Company, social activities, craft groups, discussion groups and formal activity groups. There are currently twenty-one OWN groups throughout Queensland.

Association of Independent Retirees, Queensland
AIR aims to protect and advance the interests of retirees who have funded, either in whole or in part, their own retirement. They act as a lobby group, information source, and procurer of benefits for their members. Associated with AIR Australia, there are branches throughout the country. The organisation is not politically aligned.

Aged Care Queensland
As an association of organisations concerned with providing care and accommodation services to aged or disabled Queenslanders, ACQ assists its members by promoting their work to the community and to Governments, and by keeping members informed of matters that affect the organisation’s operations. Originally formed as the Benevolent Homes Association in 1973 and then the Voluntary Care Association of Queensland the following year, Aged Care Queensland followed the lead of its interstate counterparts in adopting this final name change in 1991. A member of Aged Care Australia, its membership is open to all organisations serving older Queenslanders including churches, charities, community groups, private enterprise, State and Local Governments, as well as organisations supplying services or equipment to retirement villages, care facilities and community services. ACQ aims to assist its members provide services of excellence to the people of Queensland.

National Seniors
National Seniors Association (NSA) is Australia’s largest organisation for people aged 50 and over, with a national membership of 145,000 and growing. It has 110 branches throughout Australia with sixty-eight in Queensland.

National Seniors’ objectives are:
To provide economic and social benefits for persons aged 50 and over;
To advocate issues critical to seniors’ well-being;
To make donations and provide advice to charitable institutions assisting the ageing;
To contribute to the development of responsible social policies that address the needs and aspirations of people aged 50 and over;
Promote positive images of ageing that raise community awareness and reduce negative stereotypes.

National Seniors Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, that seeks through education, advocacy and service to enhance the quality of life of all by promoting independence, dignity and purpose.

Australia is not alone in its development and implementation of national programs encouraging a greater proportion of the general population to be active. Similar programs have been, or are in the process of being developed and implemented at the international, national and state levels. Several of these key research projects and strategies offer relevant approaches for developing opportunities for recreation and sport participation by older adults in Australia.

International Initiatives

World Health Organisation Global Initiative on Active Living
Launched in 1997, WHO’s partnership-based Global Initiative on Active Living focuses on strengthening world-wide advocacy on physical activity for health; supporting the development of national policies, strategies and programs; promoting community programs and capacity building; developing local, national, regional and international support networks, involving public and private institutions; and fostering the dissemination of current knowledge related to active living and supporting the development of new knowledge.

Eurolink Age and Ageing Well – Europe
Formed in 1981, Eurolink Age is a not-for-profit network of organisations and individuals that promotes good policy and practice on ageing, in the interests of older people in the European Union. Compared with Queensland where estimates indicate that those aged 50 and over will comprise a third of the population by 2011, people aged 50 or over already constitute one in three of the European population, two out of every five voters, and five out of every seven disabled people. By 2020, it is estimated that more than 150 million people in the European Union will be aged 50 or over, and of these, 25 million will be aged 80 or over. The Union’s response will thus provide a useful guide to future policy and strategy development in Australia.

Eurolink Age's membership represents all aspects of ageing policy and older people's interests.

One of the policies that Eurolink Age has developed is called Ageing Well Europe, which is a "European-wide program of health promotion and disease prevention for and with older people with the support and backing of a number of national governments and health authorities, in addition to the World Health Organisation and the European Union". The Ageing Well Europe Action Plan for Healthy Ageing outlines strategies aimed at prolonging "active, independent life among older people by promoting good health and reducing illness". It hopes to achieve this by a number of strategies, including:

Addressing the needs of the local community through general health promotion, or targeting specific illnesses relevant to that community;
Actively involving older people in the planning and implementation of projects, including health mentoring;
Forming healthy alliances by bringing stakeholders together at local, national and international levels; and
Encouraging the spread of good practice and information to ensure that successful practices are taken up on a wider scale.
To date, Ageing Well Europe has over forty projects running in nine European countries. The effectiveness of these approaches will provide useful information for future planning in Queensland.
Community Action Program on Health Promotion - Europe
In 1996, the European Parliament adopted a program of community action on health promotion, education and training to run for five years from 1996 to 2000. It aims to encourage cooperation between the European Union Member States and support health promotion measures undertaken by them, as well as fostering policy coordination by implementing networks, joint measures and systems for exchanging information and experiences. The strategies committed to under the program commenced in 1996 and will run through to at least December 2000.

Mass Participation Programs – Various Countries
These include Ready, Set, It's Everywhere You Go (the United States), Active for Life (the United Kingdom), Active Living (Canada) and a yet to be named New Zealand project. While each of these does not focus exclusively on older community members, they are aimed at the population as a whole, and specific strategies targeting older people can be expected.

Actively Ageing – A Resource for Masters and Veterans Sport – New Zealand
New Zealand’s Hillary Commission developed this resource in 1995. It offers practical ideas for sporting clubs looking to recruit older adults, and examines issues such as safety and injury prevention, promotion, nutrition, dealing with the media, attracting sponsorship, and specific tips for coaching older adults in a variety of sports.

National Initiatives

Active Australia
Active Australia is the name used to describe a collaborative venture between the Department of Health, Family Services and Aged Care, the Australian Sports Commission, relevant State departments, local government and the sport and recreation industry, to develop a strategic and cooperative approach to encourage participation in sport, recreation and physical activity by all Australians. The Active Australia vision is:

All Australians actively involved in sport, community recreation, fitness, outdoor recreation and other physical activities.

Active Australia differs from the Life Be In It campaign of the 1980s by focusing not only on the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle, but on ensuring the quality of activities and services provided by a range of organisations by using a branding process. How the strategies will be implemented is currently being devised on a State by State basis, but the New South Wales public education campaign gives an example of the type of message this initiative is using: Exercise. You only have to take it regularly, not seriously.

As well as promoting the benefits of physical activity using public education campaigns, the Active Australia approach uses a branding approach for Active Australia Providers to encourage the sport and recreation industry to become sufficiently well-planned with appropriately skilled, educated and qualified to be able to offer the public the quality activity programs they demand.

Contact: Sport and Recreation Division, Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing
(07) 3235 4069
 

Acting on Australia’s Weight
Acting on Australia’s Weight is the name of the strategic plan developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council for the prevention of overweight and obesity. Strategies to increase physical activity and improve nutritional status are central to this plan. Implementation of this plan should result in national guidelines for physical activity; inclusion of physical activity and healthy food choices included in occupational health and safety policies and workplace health policies; improved opportunities for physical activity provided for in work patterns, practices, and workplace design; daily physical activity in schools; creation of supportive environments for physical activity; better measures of physical activity; and population-based interventions to alter energy intake and physical activity.

Contact: Secretariat, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care

Supportive Environments for Physical Activity
Based on research which identifies that environmental factors influence physical activity and that people will logically assess whether it is easier, cheaper and more pleasant to walk, cycle or use public transport than to drive. Supportive Environments for Physical Activity aims to guide the provision of accessible, safe and pleasant environments for activity that can be incorporated into daily life.

Contact: Sport and Recreation Division, Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing
(07) 3235 4361

Older Australians: Promoting Health and Well-being
Produced by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services’ Office for the Aged, this resource provides ideas for individuals and organisations to promote the participation and health of all older people. It offers examples of projects aimed at promoting the health and well being of older people, and is part of the Healthy Seniors Initiative, which provides grants to selected projects that meet the Department’s selection criteria.

Women in Sport and Recreation Strategy 1996-2001
This document was produced by the SCORS Sub-committee for Women in Sport and Recreation (SWSR) as an action plan for all State, Territory and Commonwealth Governments to improve sport and recreation opportunities for women. It builds on the 1992-94 Strategy and focuses on women of all ages, addressing three main areas: participation (including program development, awareness and research), leadership and training (including recruitment and development and training) and excellence (including the monitoring of media coverage and increasing the number of women in leadership positions). While SWSR itself concedes the document has been superceded by more recent developments and its implementation has been hampered by the specificity of its contents, its goals and layout are relevant in this process. SWSR is currently revising the strategy.

Contact: Sport and Recreation Division, Department of Tourism, Sport and Racing
(07) 3237 9840
 

Never Too Late: Think Active, Be Active and Enjoy Life
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Commonwealth Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and is designed to enhance the ASC’s Mature Age Sport Program. The program targets all war veterans, war widows and their carers and aims to make funding available to sporting and other groups to provide specific activities that have been adapted to meet the needs and interests of the veteran community, and to increase the participation of the veteran community in new and existing sport and recreation activities.

Contact: Commonwealth Department of Veteran's Affairs

Play On: The Report of the Masters Sport Project on Mature Aged Sport in Australia
This report was produced as a joint project of the Australian Sports Commission and the Confederation of Australian Sport, in 1992. It was designed to investigate and report on masters or veterans sport in Australia at the time. It was not intended to investigate those sports not providing masters and examined within masters sports the issues of sports injury and drug use, determined the role of multi-sport games and the need for more coordinated planning of such events, examined the need for a national register of records, developed a profile of masters sport participants and identified areas where research was required. Its recommendations remain relevant to masters sport development.

Better Health Outcomes for all Australians – Report by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council
Produced in 1995, this report outlines the key priority areas in Australian health into the new millennium. It sets specific goals, target and indicators for the four priority areas of cardiovascular disease, cancer, injury and mental health, with physical activity highlighted as a key factor in prevention of the first. Based on this report the Commonwealth Department of Health funded over $1 million worth of pilot projects that focussed on physical activity, most of which have been concluded. Since the Health Outcomes report's release, diabetes has been added to the list of key priority areas, so that this report can no longer stand alone. Its immensely detailed list of indicators was also thought to be unmanageable, and these have since been narrowed so that they provide a more focussed direction. The State and Commonwealth Health Ministers release joint reports on the priority areas in each year, with a report on cardiovascular disease and diabetes to be released shortly.

National Healthy Ageing Strategy
Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have collaborated to produce a national strategy in response to Australia’s ageing population and the need for Governments to plan ahead to meet the challenge of more people living longer. The National Healthy Ageing Task Force comprises senior officials of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments. Specific State strategies to address the needs of an ageing population are also developed. The Seniors Card National Tourism Scheme is part of the National Healthy Ageing Strategy.

Contact: Office of Ageing, Policy Unit
(07) 3224 2624

Interstate Initiatives

Inquiry into Planning for Positive Ageing – Victoria
The Family and Community Development Committee of the Victorian Parliament has recently completed an Inquiry into Planning for Positive Ageing, in which it assessed the issues, policies, and programs that impact on Victorians' ageing. It considered a number of broad policy areas, including recreation, leisure and lifestyles, and found that financial resources spent on promoting a healthy approach to ageing can actually assist independence and reduce health costs associated with caring for older Victorians.

Active for Life - Victoria
In 1995, the Victorian Government launched the Active for Life program to encourage the promotion of physical activity in Victoria. This campaign promotes a message of cancer and heart disease prevention through regular moderate physical activity, healthy eating and maintaining a healthy body weight. A Victorian Physical Activity Strategy is now being developed. It brings together the Departments of Human Services, Sport and Recreation (the program's coordinators), Education, Justice, Premier and Cabinet, Health, and the Office of Local Government, as well as non-government organisations such as the National Heart Foundation (Vic), VicSport, VicFit, the Outdoor Recreation Centre, Deakin and RMIT Universities, the Victorian Health Care Association, and VicSwim. The strategy will adopt the Active for Life slogan of Just find 30 minutes a day, and is developed in the hope that the planned intersectoral strategies will encourage more Victorians to increase their involvement in physical activity.

Physical Activity Taskforce – New South Wales
In May 1996, the NSW Premier established the Physical Activity Taskforce to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the promotion of physical activity throughout the State. Chaired by Associate Professor Adrian Bauman, the Taskforce includes representatives from the Departments of Health, Local Government, Education, Education and Training, Sport and Recreation, Women, and Urban Affairs and Planning, as well as non-government organisations such as the National Heart Foundation, the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and the fitness industry. The taskforce has released a five year strategic plan to promote physical activity called Simply Active Every Day, which aims to increase the proportion of the NSW population that participates in regular moderate physical activity.

Contact: NSW Physical Activity Taskforce, Sun Exposure and Physical Activity Policy Unit
(02) 9391 9661

Physical Activity Taskforce – Western Australia

In Western Australia, the Heart Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry for Sport and Recreation has also established a Physical Activity Taskforce.

Queensland Initiatives

Everyone’s Future – Queensland’s Forward Plan on Ageing
Queensland's Forward Plan on Ageing was released in 1994 following extensive consultation with older people, community organisations and government departments. The Forward Plan represents the Queensland Government’s commitment over a five-year period to promoting and implementing strategies to meet the needs of older people in this State.

The Forward Plan outlines 70 key initiatives that are to be implemented by State Government Departments and agencies over a five-year period. Since commencement of the Plan in 1994, many new initiatives have been added in response to emerging issues. Government is required to provide an annual Progress Report on the Forward Plan to the community, with each department and agency reporting on achievements and new initiatives.

The Forward Plan was reviewed in 1997 through consultation with key stakeholders. A major issue raised during the review was that although the Forward Plan contained many initiatives, it did not provide a planning and policy framework against which to develop new initiatives. A subsequent recommendation in the Review report was that government "develop, implement and monitor a cross-government strategic planning framework on ageing for Queensland". Work has commenced on a strategic planning framework: A Queensland Framework for Ageing, which will succeed the Forward Plan on Ageing from July 1999 during International Year of Older Persons. The Framework will form Queensland’s link to the National Healthy Ageing Strategy.

The Seniors Card Scheme is a joint Queensland Government and private enterprise initiative which provides card holders with access to a wide range of State Government concessions and business discounts. Seniors Card encourages older people to be more active in the community, increase their buying power and enhance their lifestyle choices. There are 380,000 card holders and over 5,000 business outlets providing discounts and special products and services. Information is distributed to card holders through an annual mail out to all card holders in July and through eight regional newspaper lift outs that contain a mix of editorial and business discount information.

Contact: Office of Ageing, Policy Unit
(07) 3224 2624

Office of Ageing, Seniors Card
(07) 3224 2788

Just Walk It
Just Walk It is an accessible, convenient and free physical activity program, designed to provide social support and a safe environment. Based in the community, where local interested people volunteer to act as walking Guides, it encourages small groups of people to walk in their local area. The Queensland Division of the Heart Foundation, in collaboration with The University of Queensland and Queensland Health, developed the Just Walk It program. In Queensland, the program is being further developed for application by Local Governments and organisations State-wide, with funding provided for the International Year of Older Persons.

Contact: Heart Foundation (Queensland Branch)
(07) 3854 1696

The ‘60 and Better’ Program
This is a community-based, healthy ageing program funded by the Statewide Health and Non-Government Services Unit of Queensland Health, developed in recognition of the need to pro-actively address health issues related to the general ageing of the population. Work of a similar nature is also occurring in indigenous communities, known as the "healthy ageing program". There are twenty groups throughout Queensland currently operating under this program, seventeen of which receive sufficient funds to employ a coordinator. While Queensland Health acts as a referral point, it is not involved in the daily running of the activities on offer, the major aims of which are to address health issues and empower older adults. This program focuses on preventative health and the promotion of physical, emotional and general well being.

Contact: Queensland Health
(07) 3234 0350

GOLD! – Growing Old and Living Dangerously Program
GOLD! is a Brisbane City Council initiative aimed at providing a range of free or low cost leisure activities for adults over fifty years of age. The program aims to provide activities which are both physically and mentally challenging, and fall outside the accepted 'seniors only' box. Running since mid 1996, activities are run for four to eight weeks during each of the four seasons, summer, autumn, winter and spring, based around the following themes: Healthy and Active Lifestyles, Adventure Bound, Celebrating Local Culture and Green and Gold (environmental activities). Activities are located throughout Brisbane, based on suburbs known to have large populations of older citizens, and at venues which are easily identifiable and close to public transport. GOLD! also aims to link with community organisations and other Council projects to provide its activities and programs. Activities, which are extremely popular, include abseiling, indoor rock climbing, Internet classes, canoeing, organic gardening, pottery and literature workshops.

Contact: Brisbane City Council
(07) 3403 8888

Walking for Pleasure, Healthy Heart Walks and Mall Walking Programs
A variety of walking programs exists throughout Queensland organised by Local Governments, walking organisations and community-based groups. Local Divisions of General Practitioners also organise supervised walks in Shopping Malls and the community.

Contact: Queensland Divisions of General Practitioners
(07) 3856 4766

Seniors Week
Seniors Week was first observed in 1986 and has become increasingly important as a means of promoting the positive aspects of ageing, and the contribution older people make to the community. In line with the goal of the Office of Ageing, the goal of Seniors Week is to achieve increased community perception of the positive aspects of ageing, and increased participation in activities of older people. In 1997, around 600 events took place in nearly 200 cities and towns across Queensland. These were organised by a wide range of community and older people’s organisations.

Contact: Australian Pensioners and Superannuants' League
(07) 3844 5878

Seniors Games
The Seniors Games are games for frail older people conducted by the Home and Community Care Program (HACC) in Queensland.

Contact: Home and Community Care
(07) 3866 9406

Queensland Keep Fit Challenge Week
This annual event conducted by the Queensland Keep Fit Association during the first week in June involves instructors and members encouraging their families, friends, and acquaintances to put movement into their lives.

Contact: Queensland Keep Fit Association
(07) 4954 9776 Phone/Fax

Asia Pacific Masters Games (ASPAC)
1998 saw the inaugural Asia Pacific Masters Games held on the Gold Coast, providing an opportunity for mature age athletes from across Australia, the Pacific and Asia to compete in thirty different sports. Organisers welcomed more than 8,000 participants as well as a large number of supporters to the nine-day event, which included social activities as well as sporting competitions. True to the tradition of masters games, ASPAC is a 'participation' event, combining the challenge of competition with the fun of social interaction. There are no maximum age limits, only minimum ages, which vary from sport to sport. The games will be held biennially and will be hosted on the Gold Coast for at least the next ten years.

Contact: Asia Pacific Masters Games
(07) 5564 0408

Older and Wiser Program
An injury prevention program which focuses on providing practical hints for older people on how to incorporate safe practices into daily activities.

Contact: Queensland Ambulance Services Community Education
1300 650 377

CPR 2000
This is a community-based strategy that uses peer training to provide adults who are 40 years and over with education in practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques to ensure that the survival rate of victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is increased.

Contact: CPR 2000 Project
(07) 3247 8338 or (07) 3247 8336

Relevant Research

Voluntary Group Participation by Third Age Australians
This Griffith University research paper was produced in 1996 from the information provided by 206 mature age volunteers in a variety of organisations, including sport. It concluded that males were more likely than females to join sporting groups. Among older Australians, those in the 50-59 year age group were more interested in volunteer work with sporting organisations. From the five categories of volunteer organisations examined (the others being organisations providing an intellectual challenge, helping others, predominantly social and hobby or craft), only sporting groups were relatively homogeneous in terms of the levels of education of their older volunteers. The study found that 16.5% of those surveyed worked within sports clubs, of whom 69% contributed between five and 20 hours involvement each week. The report includes further interesting analysis of the gender, age, education levels, occupation history, reasons for joining, length of service, enjoyment, health and difficulties of older volunteers.

Contact: Dr Rick Swindell, Griffith University
(07) 3875 5831

‘Not over the hill. Just enjoying the view’
This research initiative of the Seniors Card Tourism Scheme focuses on seniors and tourism.

Contact: Office of Ageing, Seniors Card
(07) 3224 7565

 

1. Active involvement of all representative industry bodies in the Industry and Government Working Group (including Sports Federation Queensland, Fitness Queensland, Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation, the community recreation sector, Local Government Association of Queensland, Sport and Recreation Division [also providing the secretarial support]).

2. Ongoing consultation with an agreed Active Ageing Reference Group, consisting of representatives from bodies advocating for mature-aged people.

3. Production of an Active Ageing Strategy which outlines principles which organisations, businesses, local and state governments and individuals can follow to encourage greater levels of participation in social, physical and intellectual activity among ageing people.

4. Production of an Active Ageing Strategy to be implemented over a five-year period, which comprises planned undertakings by members of the Working Group and gives effect to the principles outlined in Term 3, within negotiated time frames.

5. A monitoring and evaluation process is developed parallel to the development of the Active Ageing Strategy. Members of the Industry and Government Working Group commit to implementing this process.

6. The Industry and Government Working Group identifies resource materials needed to support the implementation of the Active Ageing Strategy.

7. The Industry and Government Working Group will coordinate the development of the Active Ageing Strategy to its launch in 1999, at which time it will be renamed and continue to meet two-monthly to collaborate on activities, monitoring and planning. The Active Ageing Strategy document will identify the process for coordinating implementation, monitoring progress and reporting on achievements, re-convening to review the activities under the Strategy, plan for the forthcoming year and conducting an overall evaluation.

Members of the Reference Group participated in an open forum as part of the strategy development process and were invited to comment on each draft of the document, providing the Active Ageing Strategy Industry and Government Working Group with access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise during its deliberations.

Mr R Cazaly Australian Pensioners and Superannuation League
Ms B Anderson Queensland Rural Womens Network
Mrs E Wilson Queensland Country Women’s Association
Ms B Baldwin Australian Pensioners and Superannuation League
Ms N Donald National Seniors
Mr S Miles National Seniors
Mr D Deans National Seniors
Ms Y Zardani Australian Pensioners and Superannuation League
Mrs J Joyce OAM Women's Council for Rural and Regional Communities
Mr C Hart Asia Pacific Masters Games
Mr S Perkins Asia Pacific Masters Games
Ms G McChesney-Clark Council on the Ageing
Ms W Skitch Council on the Ageing
Ms S Woodbridge Council on the Ageing
Mr M Isaacs Aged Care Queensland
Mr C Grimley Association of Residents of Retirement Villages
Ms D Lindsay Older Women's Network (Qld) Inc
Ms S Downs Older Women’s Network (Qld) Inc
Executive Officer Australian Society of Sports Administrators (Qld)
Ms B McKnaught Waterpolo Queensland
Mrs G Albert Croquet Association Queensland
Mr J Andrew Queensland Shooting Association
Ms E Arthy Queensland Keep Fit Association
Ms S McLachlan Queensland Keep Fit Association
Mr B Bodsworth Queensland Athletic Association Ltd
Mr R Carroll Rowing Queensland Inc
Ms R Clarke Women's Golf Queensland
Mr D Keating Surf Lifesaving Foundation
Mrs A Lear Queensland Fitness Accreditation Confederation Inc
Ms J Johnson Queensland Fitness Accreditation Confederation Inc
Mr M Knowles Sports Medicine Australia - Queensland
Ms V Head
Mr J English Royal Queensland Bowls Association
Ms N Dennis Sports Federation of Queensland
Mr J Rigby Queensland Trampoline Association Inc
Mr A Sherbakoff Queensland Amateur Fencing Association Inc
Mr M Stone Queensland Orienteering Association Inc
Ms J Quilter Queensland Netball Association
Ms N Weir Tenpin Bowling Association of Queensland Inc
Ms L Wenban Queensland Canoeing Inc
Ms J Yet Foy Queensland Amateur Pistol Shooting
Mr R Young Queensland Basketball Inc
Ms A Zavros The Equestrian Fed of Aust (Qld) Inc
Mr G Jackson Queensland Table Tennis Association Inc
Mr I Moir Queensland Weightlifting Association Inc
Mr T Keogh Queensland Roller Sports Association Inc
Mr S Collins Recreation training Queensland
Mr G Turner Recreation Training Queensland
Ms S Gardner
Ms L Giles Queensland Ladies Bowling Association Inc
Ms B Doolan The View Club Chermside
Ms J Mander The View Club Wilston
Mr D Speechley Aussie Masters Swimming
Dr I Patterson School of Leisure Studies Griffith University
Dr P Reaburn Central Queensland University
Ms G Tan University of Southern Queensland
Ms T Garrett
Ms C Akello Australian Sports Commission
Ms H Douglas Veterans Affairs
Mr P Jensen Office of Ageing
Mr A Maudlin Office of Ageing
Ms S Misso Queensland Arts
Ms J Brown Queensland Health
Mr M McCahon Queensland Health
Ms J Walker Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Ms M Jordan Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Mr A Boosey Queensland Events Corporation
Mr D Lloyd Queensland Events Corporation
Ms A Carrigan DTIR
Ms M Norton DTIR
Ms L Dalley Office of Rural Communities
Ms Chiu Ming Tai Office of Ethnic and Multicultural Affairs
Mr T Reddell Premiers
Mr S Atfield Redland Shire Council
Mr H Wright Redland Shire Council
Mr J Brady Redcliffe City Council
Mr D Churchill Laidley Shire Council
Ms C McGuire Laidley Shire Council
Mr G Reid Laidley Shire Council
Mr G Day Beaudesert Shire Council
Mr B Ede Cambooya Shire Council
Mr D Hertwick Toowoomba City Council
Mr I Farr Toowoomba City Council
Mr G Kellar Logan City Council
Mr S Walker Logan City Council
Mr N Kropp Warwick Shire Council
Ms D Bensley Ipswich City Council
Mr R Carter Brisbane City Council
Dr D Daines Gold Coast City Council
Mr R McNab Gold Coast City Council
Mr B Domrow Gatton Shire Council
Mr L Schumacher Gatton Shire Council
Ms J Kelaher Caboolture Shire Council
Mr R Noble Caboolture Shire Council
Mr J Matthews Pine Rivers Shire Council
Mr G Storch Caloundra City Council
 

This is an archive copy of a document originally located at http://www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/zone_files/Corporate_files/active_ageing_strategy.doc. All copyright remains with the creator.

The National Sport Information Centre Web Archive provides access to archive copies of materials in electronic forms. There is no inference that these materials necessarily reflect the current policy of any of the institutions or agencies that created them.