Bevan C. Grant

‘You're never too old’: beliefs about physical activity and playing sport in later life

It was evident from interviews with 15 men and women over 70 years of age that the experiences derived from being physically active and playing sport in later life are expansive, dynamic and completely imbued with multiple interpretations. Furthermore, their beliefs support the notion that the physically active body should be considered more than a physical object, as it represents a conscious, feeling, thinking and reflective self. The findings signify much is to be gained by regularly partaking in deliberate physical activity during later life although this is not always as easy as it sounds. At a personal level, changes in functional capacity and dealing with the sometimes ailing body can serve as a deterrent. From a broader perspective, the stigma associated with being older also poses a significant physical, sociological and psychological challenge, particularly during the initial phases. In conclusion, the study discusses why change must occur at a personal and societal level before a greater proportion of the older population become more physically active.

Exploring “Other Body(s)” of Knowledge: Getting to the Heart of the Story About Aging and Physical Activity

Aging is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon subject to a continual redefining of the physical, social, psychological, and cultural self. The collective of these subtleties poses a number of challenges for policy makers, program and community leaders, health professionals, and researchers when trying to enhance quality of life for older adults through physical activity. In this article we reflect on how we have come to know about aging and physical activity and argue why expanding the research agenda will better get to the “heart” of active living in the later years.

Seeing is believing: telling the ‘inside’ story of a beginning masters athlete through film

Readers should also refer to the journals website at http://www.informaworld.com/rqrs and check volume 2, issue 2 to view the accompanying video clips. This will appear as ‘Supplementary Content’ to this article. This paper is about how a previously inactive woman with little or no experience of playing sports became a masters athlete at 65 years of age. The authors explore how visual methods as a different way of knowing can be used to enhance our current theories and practical knowledge about older adults’ experiences with sport and exercise. How data were gathered and analysed through film and how film was used to represent experience are described. Additionally, the authors offer their perspective on some challenges and/or ethical issues researchers may face when visual methods are used.

Retirement Villages: More Than Enclaves for the Aged

Abstract This study examined how the day-to-day experiences of 112 participants living in 12 different New Zealand retirement villages influenced their lifestyle and quality of life. Although acknowledging some limitations of this type of living, the participants refuted what they deemed to be a public perception that these places are enclaves for the aged and detract from positive active aging. Rather they described how their respective village provided an endless array of opportunities to rekindle old skills and become involved in new ones. It was claimed this helped contribute to a “Culture of Rejuvenation”-the theme for the results presented in this article. Many of the participants spoke of how since relocating to a retirement village they had found a more definite purpose to their lives. Irrespective of their state of well-being they felt valued members of a secure and supportive community and this helped develop a genuine sense of belonging. It was evident these qualities enhanced ones identity and quality of life.

‘Against the grain’: over 75 years and joining a community exercise programme

This study explores the meanings that 22 men over 75 years attributed to their experience when joining a community exercise programme. Information gathered via interviews was analysed by inductive analysis. Four dominant themes emerged and these provide a framework for representing the findings. All men believed a physical active lifestyle was desirable for well-being and quality of life, although engagement at various levels is strongly influenced by the social construction of ageing and one’s personal history. Being physically active via a programme in later life is as much an embodied as a technical endeavour. It is also as much biographical as biological, and for ongoing engagement exercise must be deemed purposeful to self, irrespective of whether or not what occurs is in accordance with the scientific script prescribed for optimal health. Just being ‘older’ poses a variety of challenges to adopting a physically active lifestyle in the later years, something the men in this study imply needs to be better understood.

Time for Action: Advocacy for Physical Activity in Later Life.

By 2050, the over 65 years age group will account for approximately one quarter of the population. This will have many unprecedented social and economic consequences of which one is the cost associated with health. A preventive health related behaviour attracting considerable attention is physical activity, something that becomes less popular with age. Nonetheless, sustained physical activity can minimize the physiological effects of a sedentary lifestyle as well as hinder the onset and progression of some chronic diseases and disabling conditions frequently associated with later life. Although there is a substantial body of research telling about the benefits, this is yet to impact what happens in the community. This article comments on the changing demographic, the inactive phenomenon, and reflects on what is currently happening with regards to enticing a greater proportion of the older population into a physically active lifestyle.

A new sense of self and a new lease of life: leisure in a retirement village.

Abstract As life expectancy increases society will face many unprecedented challenges. One of these will be housing tenure, for the type of home and community in which people live can have a direct impact on health and quality of life. In New Zealand, retirement village living is attracting considerable interest from an increasing proportion of the older population. The purpose of this paper is to consider how living in a retirement village influences the leisure experiences of 121 men and women, ranging in age from 69 to 91 years. Two themes that emerged from focus group discussions in 12 different villages were ‘sense of belonging’ and ‘new lease of life’. The residents argued that the lifestyle within a retirement village provided a supportive and invigorating environment that resonated with their changing circumstances and offered a chance for self-contentment and self-fulfilment in a way that prompted a new lease of life.

Leisure in the Life of a Military Spouse

Abstract This study draws on phenomenology using the memory-work method to examine the everyday leisure experiences of five military women spouses living in a remote part of Aotearoa New Zealand. The results revealed the womens freedom of choice for leisure activities were adversely affected by relocating to a military community. Consequently, they shared an empathy with each other and modified their leisure to best suit the situation in which they were currently living. However, they all made many compromises and were emphatic this was not an ideal situation for the family, their leisure or sense of self.

Narratives in research: Story as ‘showing’ the eminently ordinary experience of ageing

To offer a perspective when research narratives about how ageing is lived in everyday life are the primary data.