How to Motivate Seniors to Become Physically Active

You can strengthen the motivation of older adults by focusing on the following factors: beliefs, physical sensations, individualized care, social support, spirituality and goal setting.

It is difficult to believe that the large number of older adults who do not engage in physical activity are simply unwilling to exercise. Instead of writing them off, maybe the fitness industry needs to change its motivational strategy. Motivation is an important factor in older adults' abilities to perform functional activities and recover from disabling events. Some research has found that beliefs, social support and verbal encouragement are related to older adults' motivation to participate in exercise activities. They also participate to recover from orthopedic and cardiac events. So, how can you motivate the older adult population to exercise? You can strengthen their motivation by focusing on the following factors: beliefs, physical sensations, individualized care, social support, spirituality and goal setting.

Beliefs

Beliefs result from perceptions formed from previous experiences. If people believe that they can perform a physical activity, they will likely try. If they shy away from physical activity, they have probably not been motivated to try anything in the past, and they are probably convinced that they cannot perform such activities. Some simple ways to alter people's beliefs in their ability to exercise include giving verbal encouragement, pairing them with people who are already active, and eliminating unpleasant sensations associated with the activity. Remember that some seniors will shy away from a facility that is crowded.

Physical sensations

Pain and fear have a major impact on motivation. They can directly affect an older adult's willingness to perform specific activities. To relieve discomfort, facilitate appropriate use of pain medication. "Facilitate" means encouraging older adults to consult with their physicians. Also, start with programs that are pleasurable, such as relaxation techniques and yoga. After their mindset changes about physical activity, your senior members can progress to activities that are more intense, but not painful.