142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Age-Friendly Strategies for All: Promoting Physical Activity in Parks and Open Spaces

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

Caitlyn Smith, MPH , Division of Health Policy, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Older adults can benefit from physical activity opportunities in parks.  Enhanced access to such opportunities in parks is stressed as an important enabler of physical activity (CDC, 2013). However, only 15.9% of older adults are currently meeting exercise guidelines (CDC, 2013).  Expanding access to physical activity opportunities in parks can be a low cost solution to improving exercise rates among people of all ages, including older adults. Two multi-sector initiatives of The New York Academy of Medicine, Age-friendly NYC and DASH-NY (New York State’s Obesity Prevention Coalition and Policy Center) recommend five evidence-based strategies to increase physical activity for all ages through park improvements in urban areas.

Age-Friendly NYC and DASH-NY conducted a systematic, internationally-based literature review to identify strategies for improving older adults’ physical activity access in urban parks: incorporate physical/design improvements, create new green space near where people live, add adult playgrounds/designated fitness areas, add age-friendly exercise equipment, and develop parks programming that address needs of older adults.  These strategies informed the creation of a resource guide that includes implementation examples across NYC and best practices worldwide.  The guide emphasizes how multi-sector partnerships support successful implementation and facilitate equitable access to opportunities for safe spaces to be active.

Information from and copies of the resource guide will be provided.  The presentation will detail the age-friendly improvement strategies and outline programming designed to meet the physical activity needs of all ages, including older adults. Examples of successful collaborations and best practices for local level implementation will also be provided.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the need for to promote physical activity among all ages, including older adults, and how parks can be a cost effective strategy for increasing access to fitness opportunities. Explain specific evidence-based, age-friendly improvement strategies that promote physical activity for patrons in urban parks and open spaces. Identify best practices in parks and public spaces programming to better meet the needs of older adults and increase physical activity.

Keyword(s): Aging, Community Health Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present on Age-friendly NYC because I am a Strategic Assistance Coordinator for the initiative who supports neighborhood-level efforts and works directly with multi-sectoral leadership. I have presented our work before the Age-friendly NYC Commission, at events led by local political leaders, for community organizations, and for older adults themselves.
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.

Back to: 4353.0: Spending Time at the Park: Community Parks Promote Improved Physical Activity