Well-being Material Library

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Exercise parks for older adults boost well-being in so many ways…

As we get older even everyday tasks can get tiring.But the right kind of exercise can help us stay active, safe, and independent.Research & Innovation for Sustainability Center (RISC) has researched senior-friendly exercise parks and found clear benefits, including fewer falls. Special parks for older adults are already installed at The Forestias forest district and its The Aspen Tree community.Outdoor exercise areas for older adults keep us young in 4 key areas:◾️ Strength Exercises: Bodyweight exercises strengthen upper and lower muscles, helping us stand, walk, and get up from sitting down.◾️ Balance Exercises: Wobble boards, step platforms, uneven surfaces, and handrails help us stay steady when standing or moving and reduce the risk of falls.◾️ Coordination & Functional Exercises: Rhythmic and sequenced movements help us coordinate between hands, eyes, and feet for daily movements like walking, turning, and standing up, reducing our fall risk.◾️ Movement & Flexibility Exercises: Stretching muscles and joints enhances mobility, supporting smooth and confident movement throughout daily life.Dr. Pazit Levinger, a specialist at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) in Australia, has studied exercise parks for older adults to promote daily movement, reduce fall risks, and improve both physical and mental well-being. Her Exercise Interventions Outdoors for Seniors in the Community (ENJOY) project found:◾️ Much lower fall risks: After a 12-week program with 12-month follow-up, the proportion of people who experienced a fall dropped from 51.8% to 31.4%, with overall falls down from 42 to 29.◾️ Improved strength, flexibility, and balance: After 18 weeks of exercise, participants showed better single-leg balance, stronger knees, increased walking distance in 2 minutes, and quicker sit-to-stand ability—resulting in lower fall risk and safer movement.◾️ Even older adults with dementia can benefit: After 12 weeks, participants could walk farther and faster without falling. They also reported feeling happier, more engaged, and experienced reduced social isolation.24 public parks in Melbourne and Victoria in Australia were upgraded into senior-friendly outdoor spaces in 2022 following this research. The Seniors Exercise Park program at the parks helps older adults stay active, enhance their muscles and balance, and reduce their fall risk. The parks also promote social interaction with group exercises and the fun of being outdoors, combating loneliness and encouraging regular exercise. The Forestias by MQDC supports active, healthy aging. The forest districted has built 2 senior exercise parks—on its Happy Lawn and in The Aspen Tree community—creating spaces for older adults to stay active and engaged.Content by: Suphunphang Raksawong, Sustainable Building Material Researcher Reference byPazit Levinger and etc, 2020. Guidance about age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment and associated strategies to maximise usability for older people. Health Promot J Austral. 2021;32:475–482.​Pazit Levinger et al. The Effect of the ENJOY Seniors Exercise Park Physical Activity Program on Falls in Older People in the Community: A Prospective Pre-Post Study Design. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, (2022) 26: 217–221 ​Pazit Levinger et al. Outdoor physical activity for older people-the senior exercise park: Current research, challenges and future directions. Health promotion journal of Australia, (2018) 1-7.​Levinger et al. Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY - results from the ENJOY program for independence in dementia: a feasibility pilot randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatr. 2023 Jul 12;23(1):426.​