Abstract
Sedentary behavior is associated with negative health outcomes and unhealthy aging. Older adults are the most sedentary age group, and decreasing sitting time represents an intervention target for improving health. Determinants of sedentary behavior have been examined in older adults living in their own homes, yet less is known about sedentary behavior of older adults in residential care facilities. The purpose of this study was to explore factors contributing to sedentary behavior among residents of independent and assisted living facilities. We conducted eight focus groups with residents (n = 44) and semi-structured interviews with staff (n = 6) across four living facilities. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using an iterative, inductive approach. Three salient themes were identified. Residents and staff both viewed sedentary behavior negatively unless it was in the context of social engagement. Additionally, fear of falling was discussed as a significant contributor to sedentary behavior. Finally, residents felt the community living environment contributed to their sedentary behavior while staff did not. Our findings provide valuable insight for designing targeted interventions for older adults in residential facilities and suggest thinking beyond the individual and considering environmental influences on sedentary behavior in the residential care setting.
Highlights
Older adults are the most sedentary age group, spending an estimated 9.4 h per day engaged in low energy seated activities [1]
Our results reveal how the social and physical living environments of ILF and ALF communities affect sedentary behavior in older adults
We provide valuable information about resident and staff perspectives on sedentary behavior needed for designing interventions tailored to older adults in residential living facilities
Summary
Older adults are the most sedentary age group, spending an estimated 9.4 h per day engaged in low energy seated activities [1]. Engagement in high levels of sedentary behavior is associated with poor health outcomes including cardiometabolic disease [3], sarcopenia [4], and increased risk of mortality [5,6,7,8]. Several studies have found these health risks to be independent of time spent engaged in physical activity, distinguishing sedentary behavior as an important determinant of health outcomes [3,6,9]. Given the detrimental effects of sedentary behavior and the high levels of sedentary time in older adults, there is a need to improve our understanding of factors influencing sedentary behavior in the. Public Health 2020, 17, 6415; doi:10.3390/ijerph17176415 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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