Abstract
Background: Global interest in the health and general well-being of the world's older adult population is fast becoming a significant concern within the current international healthcare system. Physical exercise can and does successfully influence our body strengthening systems, our general muscles, vascular structures, tendons, ligaments and our increasing range of motion (Ministry of Health, 2013). Physical exercise also plays a significant role in enhancing our mental health while being seen as a co-existing and positive mechanism for dealing with feelings of depression and anxiety (Ministry of Health, 2013).
Research Aim/ Research Question: This project aimed to explore how participation in 'Life Fit' programmes can influence older adult's physical and mental wellbeing. The research question of this project is, how do social connectedness and physical exercise at Life Fit classes influence the overall aspects of physical, mental and social health for people over the age of 65 years.
Research Design/Method: Qualitative Descriptive Methodology was used for this study. Data was collected via individual interviews and analysed using content analysis. Four participants were recruited for this study, and the use of content analysis was used to analyse and compare participants answers to produce several categories based on the existing literature and participant answers. Findings: Findings suggest that there were improvements in mental, social, and physical health associated with the engagement of the Life Fit programme.
Conclusion: The results from this research project have analysed the views and experiences of four participants in a Life Fit group, and analysed if any mental and physical health improvements were apparent. The following categories were identified from the analysis, social connectedness, Māori access to health inequities, physical health improvements, mental health improvements, sense of belonging and felt mutual support. For future research it would be beneficial for researchers to understand that this study only had four participants selected, and that the findings of this study only represented a small sample size of the older adult demographic.