176187 Redesigning a Health Center to Promote Participation in Physical Exercise by Older Adults with Vision Loss

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 11:42 AM

Beth A. Barstow, MS, OTR/L, SCLV , Occupational Therapy, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Mary L. Warren, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA , Occupational Therapy, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Older adults comprise two thirds of all persons with low vision (Orr, 1992). For older adults with low vision, engaging in regular exercise not only improves general health but may prevent further vision impairment (Cundiff & Nigg, 2005). Despite the benefits of regular exercise, the combination of age, physical limitations, and visual impairment often discourages older adults with low vision from using health and recreation facilities (Satariano, Haight & Tager, 2000). Barriers for persons with visual impairment extend beyond the effects of the built environment to include such factors as organizational policy, reading printed materials, using fitness equipment, and interacting with facility staff. Overcoming these barriers requires a multidimensional approach that extends beyond just modifying the built environment (Rimmer, Riley, Wang, & Rauworth, 2005).

The purpose of the project was to promote participation in recreational activities among older adults with vision impairment by ensuring that they could fully participate in all programming within a community-based recreational facility for people with disabilities. Project outcomes targeted safe and independent participation and satisfaction in exercise programs and increased health and wellness. The PRECEDE-PROCEED model (Green & Kreuter, 1999) guided the project. Interventions addressed modifying the physical environment to facilitate patron's use of vision, training staff to effectively interact with and instruct patrons with vision loss and modifying written materials to ensure readability. Project outcomes though not fully realized, support Rimmer et. al's theory that a multidimensional approach is necessary in order to overcome participation barriers for people with vision impairment.

Learning Objectives:
On conclusion of the presentation, participants will: 1.Describe evidence-based teaching/learning strategies that enable health and wellness professionals to successfully transfer knowledge to practice to provide programming to older adults with vision loss. 2.Describe how to evaluate and modify community environments to facilitate independent participation by older adults with vision loss. 3.Describe how to evaluate and modify written materials to increase readability for people with vision loss.

Keywords: Aging, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an assistant professor at UAB with a speciality certification in low vision rehabilitation. I am currently a doctoral student in HE/HP at UAB
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.