An assessment of leisure activities and the fitness and well-being of older people in Liverpool.

Current demographic changes are characterised by an increased number and proportion of older people. This is typified in Liverpool's population. The Government's White Paper objective of'adding years to life and life to years' encapsulates the challenge faced by health professions, politicians and academics in responding to such demographic realities. One factor that has been suggested as having the potential to enhance life quality in particular, is the use of leisure time. This area was explored in the current study. The main aim of the study was to examine the relationship between leisure and ageing. Specifically the study aimed to document the leisure behaviour of older people, to investigate the factors which are associated with, or are a consequence of, leisure participation and to critically discuss the implications of this study for leisure interventions and models of ageing. To achieve these aims a series of quantitative studies was undertaken to examine the leisure behaviour of a sample of older people including the relationship between this behaviour and fitness and well-being. Subjects were from three different age groups, from differing residential settings and included both sexes. Attitudes towards leisure and health, service use and provision and the activity adoption process were also investigated in this sample. In addition, the attitudes of people within the immediate socio-context of older people were assessed. These studies were followed by a qualitative investigation into issues emerging from the quantitative findings. One of the main findings of this study was that the nature of activity undertaken by the sample of older people was home based, non physically active and social. This raises many questions since active pursuits and pursuits outside of the home were found to be associated with well-being. Leisure behaviour differed variably by age, sex and residence type. A major constraint to leisure participation was found to be poor health status. This was particularly salient to older subjects and those living in residential accommodation. The relevance of other forms of constraints differed by age and residence type. Multiple regression analysis revealed rating of physical activity and rating of personal control to be major variables in explaining the variance observed in leisure behaviour. Some of the important factors implicated in relation to leisure in later life were: personal control, health status, physical ability, receptiveness and the socio-cultural environment. The study questioned the use of chronological age as a measure of the ageing process and also discussed the definition of leisure in relation to later life. The study suggested that interventions should be considered to promote activities aimed at the widening of leisure repertoire in addition to encouraging frequency of participation in certain types of activity. Interventions should ensure that the older population is not categorised as one homogenous group and should create supportive environments to encourage their use. The empowering principles of health promotion are also implicated from the work. Interventions should also contribute to creating positive attitudes towards activity in later life.