The Effect of the Public Exercise Environment on the Physical Activity for the Active Ageing of the Elderly

Recent medical studies have revealed that the physical activity for active ageing is very important for health and well-being of elderly's life. This study aims to identify the current situation of public exercise environments where the elderly in urban areas exercise daily, and to research how public exercise environments could influence the physical activities for the active ageing of the elderly. The site of this study is an underprivileged urban area where the low-income elderly population is dominant. Through field observations, and through direct interviews using questionnaire form for 180 subjects over a period in October to November 2011, data on the elderly's physical activity were collected. The result of this study revealed that the elderly in underprivileged urban areas were using the public exercise environment regardless of their perceived health, and that the older residents would undertake less vigorous physical activities. The regular users of these public facilities would tend to be more active than those who do not. The research illustrates the significance of public exercise environments which should have a role in health promotion. Therefore, availability of public places, such as small neighbourhood gardens and parks, should be part of a nation's strategy to encourage active ageing for the elderly, particular in low-income areas.