Question 15

EPA National Community Recognition Program

QUESTION 15

Our community has an initiative that includes promotion, advertising, recruitment, and widely available programs and opportunities to engage more older adults in active aging/physical activity.

Background

Recruiting participants for community physical activity programs can be challenging since many older adults are reluctant to join programs for numerous reasons. Recruitment typically requires using community partnerships and referral strategies to identify potential participants and effective promotion initiatives or campaigns to generate interest in the programs your community has to offer.

Getting Started

Many communities publish physical activity guides that list recreation areas, fitness and health centers, faith-based exercise programs, walking paths and clubs, and other locations where older adults can join in and get active. Other promotion ideas include special-purpose walking campaigns, new program announcements at the local YMCA or senior center, and special promotions and incentives for older adults at area fitness clubs.

Internet Resources on Promotion, Advertising, and Recruitment

National Council on the Aging Center for Healthy Aging
Recruiting Older Adults into Your Physical Activity Programs
http://www.healthyagingprograms.com/content.asp?sectionid=73&ElementID=384

Active for Life National Program Office
Template for a Community Resource Guide
http://www.activeforlife.info/resources/files/Community%20Guide%20Template%20generic-detailed.pdf
( About PDF)

National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Age 50 and Older
http://www.agingblueprint.org/PDFs/Final_Blueprint_Doc.pdf (21 pp, 1.65MB, About PDF)

Active Options for Aging Americans
http://www.activeoptions.org

NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging – Physical Activity Resources
http://www.healthyagingprograms.com/content.asp?sectionid=73

Innovative Programs

National Blueprint
Blueprint Mini-Grant Programs
(For ideas on promotion and recruitment)
http://www.agingblueprint.org/grant.cfm

Best Practices in Physical Activity Programming
http://www.healthyagingprograms.org/content.asp?sectionid=73&ElementID=144

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Question 15

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