Physical activity preferences of older home care clients.
BACKGROUND
Physical activity contributes to an older person's health and well-being by maintaining strength, balance and mobility, all of which are important for older people who wish to remain living in their home for as long as possible. It is therefore essential that community nurses and those working with home care clients promote being physically active. To do this effectively requires an understanding of the type of physical activity older home care clients prefer to engage in.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to identify the physical activity preferences of older people who received a home care service and to determine whether being physically active is important to this population.


METHODS
Twenty older home care clients were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using a descriptive qualitative methodology.


RESULTS
Walking, housework and gardening were identified as the activities of choice. The majority of interviewees suggested that it was important to be physically active.


CONCLUSIONS
Structured exercise programmes are not the activity of choice for older home care clients. Therefore, when community nurses and allied health workers promote physical activity to their clients, they should suggest activities such as walking, housework and gardening and also endorse the benefits of physical activity for well-being and staying independent.


CONCLUSIONS
Health and community nurses and organisations should routinely encourage home care clients to increase their activity levels, especially utilising those activities they most enjoy.
School of Physiotherapy & Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.|Silver Chain, Osborne Park, WA, Australia.
Elissa
E
Burton
Silver Chain, Osborne Park, WA, Australia.|School of Nursing & Midwifery, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
Gill
G
Lewin
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
Duncan
D
Boldy
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D057240:Patient Preference; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia
active ageing; exercise; health promotion; home and community care; nursing; older people