Focus Group Report
Physical Activity and Women 55–70
Physical inactivity levels for adults 55–70 is a concern in Canada and in particular for women in this age
group.There are many health and quality of life consequences as inactive people are more susceptible to
health problems such as increased obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.To help understand and
address this issue, CAAWS has undertaken a three-year project (2005 to 2008) focused on increasing physical
activity opportunities for women 55–70. Partners involved on the Advisory Committee to the project include:
Canadian Nurses Association, Canadian Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Active Living
Coalition for Older Adults, Canadian Parks and Recreation Association,Victorian Order of Nurses Canada,
Osteoporosis Canada and two members of the target audience, one representing less active women and the
other representing active women.
The project objectives are:
- To identify barriers to physical activity for women 55–70.
- To identify solutions and best practices for increasing physical activity for women 55–70.
- To develop resources for multi-sectoral practitioners and older women that will assist in increasing
physical activity levels in women 55–70.
- To increase awareness around the importance of physical activity for women 55–70 among multi-sectoral stakeholders on a national basis.
- To evaluate the current and future impacts of the project in increasing physical activity opportunities for
women 55–70.
Year one was focused on data collection to understand barriers and potential solutions related to women
55–70 and physical activity. Data were collected through an environmental scan examining Canadian and
international programs, services, policies and research related to women 55–70 and physical activity; and
conducting 38 cross-country focus groups with active women, less active women and community
stakeholders.
Years two and three of the project will focus on: developing resources for multi-sectoral practitioners and
women 55–70 that will assist in: increasing physical activity levels; increasing awareness through advocacy
around the importance of physical activity for women 55–70; disseminating the results of the project through
community workshops; and evaluating the current and future impacts of the project in increasing physical
activity opportunities for women 55–70.
Summary of the Findings
It was clear that active women had found solutions to their physical activity barriers and made a personal
decision to make physical activity a priority in their lives. Less active women, for a multitude of reasons,were
not at this point and needed additional support.
Life changes impacted activity.The impact of competing priorities and where physical activity was placed on
that list throughout life seemed to have the greatest impact in women being active throughout life and at
this stage in their lives.
Barriers to Being Active
The women identified many different barriers that kept them from being active including several external
factors:weather, both winter and summer, as well as early darkness and rain; transportation from access to a
car, loss of driving ability to the challenges of using public transportation if it is available; infrastructure
highlighting lack of sidewalks, bus stops, lighting, the design of public trails and facilities to allow access; and
the cost of everything including classes, gym memberships,workout clothing and equipment.
They also identified internal issues, referring to them as secrets: body image: the same issues that women face
at really any age; fears: the fear of falling, of going out at night of being isolated and the fear of failure; lack of
skills:women who had never been active were unsure of how to acquire new skills in the physical activity
realm; guilt: for being active, for not being active, for taking time away for themselves, for leaving an ailing
loved one, and on and on and on; negative attitudes: needing to overcome a previous poor experience or
issue; confidence: not feeling comfortable learning something new or intimidated to venture into completely
new territory; priorities: the tendency of women to put everyone else’s needs ahead of their activity time; and
transitions: the wide range of physical, emotional, and stage of life changes that occur within this age group.
Other impacting issues included: simply understanding how to measure physical activity amidst the variety
of information available; health: the variety of physical changes women are going through, as well as the
ailments and nagging or chronic conditions they may be facing; caregiving: the reality of dependants from
teenagers to grandchildren, or aging parents or ailing partners; buddies: how finding a physical activity
partner can be really beneficial and the difficulty when they cannot find someone; isolation: retiring,moving,
losing a spouse or partner and geography can all contribute to a feeling of isolation; program related issues:
having instructors who understand their needs, reflect their age group, and adapt programs to ageappropriate
activities; supportive environments: the need to be welcomed, to feel comfortable and motivated
to participate, as well as encouragement from family and friends; role models: seeing other active older
women and hearing their testimonies as encouragement; incentives and motivators: ways to entice and
motivate women; and the way programs are marketed or communicated: using accurate words and
descriptions to draw women into participating.
Both active and non-active women felt more could be done to get women 55–70 physically active and
wanted to continue being part of this project to make this happen.Getting more women 55–70 physically
active in a community is not the responsibility of one group but the collective responsibility of a wide variety
of partners in health and recreation, who can all contribute to the solution.
Summary of Recommendations
- Develop a business case around physical activity for women 55–70. Community stakeholders need the
evidence-based information to build a strong case.
- Widely distribute results of the focus group report and environmental scan document.
- Using the feedback received from the focus groups and environmental scan develop local and national
level tools and resources for both women 55–70 and community stakeholders.
- Develop a communication tool kit with resources for promoting physical activity for women 55–70.
- Create an electronic network of focus group participants to start regular communications where we can
pilot ideas and get suggestions.
- Conduct workshops across the country to build capacity, share information and network.
- Develop a self-assessment tool, online and in paper format, so women can assess what they already do to
see where they need to do more.
To read the full report click here.
______________________________________________________________________________
| Title |
Focus Group Report Physical Activity and Women 55–70 |
| Publisher |
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) |
| Date |
April 2007 |
| Link |
http://www.caaws.ca/women55plus/index.cfm |
This material has been copied under license from the Publisher. Any resale for profit or further copying is strictly prohibited.
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