Senior Citizens Health — Movement & Nature in the City

Project data

Title: Senior Citizens Health — Movement & Nature in the City
Duration: November 2015 to December 2016
Funding Institution:
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Astrid Zech
Project Staff: Evi Petersen
Project Partner: University of Hamburg, Institute of Movement Science

Project description

Since the potential likelihood of getting sick increases with age, physical activity as a preventive measure for maintaining health in the elderly is of central importance. Despite knowing the health potential of regular physical activity, many seniors find it difficult to comply with current physical activity guidelines. Studies from various scientific disciplines over the past ten years have shown that it is above all nature-related recreational areas that can contribute in many ways to increase the physical activity and thus the (health-related) quality of life of city dwellers. Among other things, study results show that adults are significantly more physically active, especially if natural recreation areas are accessible in the vicinity (<1 km) of their place of residence.

On the basis of own research and current studies, questions and hypotheses on the accessibility and the user profiles as well as the resulting demands and needs of seniors on nature-related recreational areas in the urban area were developed.

In a recent cooperation study between the University of Jena and the University of Hamburg, for example, > 65-year-olds are asked about their satisfaction with the design of urban green spaces and their (physical) activities and length of stay in nature-related recreational areas. The results of this study serve as a basis for designing measures and projects aimed at increasing the physical activity and quality of life of senior citizens in urban areas.