Many older adults are inactive despite efforts to promote the benefits of regular physical activity. Because walking is the most commonly reported form of physical activity among older adults, enhancing community environments to support walking is a promising approach to increase physical activity among seniors.
Research shows that modifying a community’s physical environment to ensure access to appropriate exercise venues and address barriers to walking may increase the physical activity of older adults. Specific measures include: repairing sidewalks and ensuring sidewalk availability; ensuring safety and protection from traffic (for example, by using traffi c-calming devices); and protecting older adults from crime. In addition to such environmental enhancements, older adults also may benefit from programs that encourage leisure-time activities. Helping older adults remain active in their own communities is an investment with documented cost savings, and making communities safe is benefi cial to everyone.
From the CDCs The State of Aging and Health in America 2007
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