Conference Agenda
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Daily Overview |
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GR1_2_2: Symposium: Green and built environments as catalysts for active aging: Linking environment, physical activity, and health
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Green and built environments as catalysts for active aging: Linking environment, physical activity, and health Being physically active and spending time outdoors supports active aging, yet many older adults do not meet recommended activity levels. Designing environments that motivate and enable outdoor physical activity for people with varying functional abilities may help increase activity levels, but more knowledge is needed on how environmental planning and physical activity program delivery can best support older adults. This symposium addresses this gap by offering new insights into the characteristics of outdoor spaces that foster physical activity and health, and into approaches for engaging older adults in outdoor environments. The symposium includes three research-oriented presentations, one practice-oriented presentation, and a commentary. The first research presentation demonstrates how lower extremity functioning and land-use patterns shape older adults’ active transport speed, illustrating the integration of GPS, geospatial data, and physical functioning measures. The second examines green space use for physical activity, exploring associations with overall activity levels, health-related outcomes, and older adults’ preferred activities in these areas. The third investigates relationships between exposure to green and blue spaces, accelerometer-measured activity, and depressive symptoms among Finnish older adults, highlighting environmental features that may counteract depressed mood and support mental well-being. The practice-oriented presentation discusses the types of support older adults with different functional levels require to participate in outdoor activities and how such guidance can be effectively delivered within physical activity programs, drawing on experiences from two national Finnish programs. A commentary from the landscape architecture perspective concludes the session. Participants in this session will gain insight into the outdoor activities older adults prefer, the environmental features that best support physical activity and health, and ways to account for varying levels of physical functioning when encouraging outdoor engagement. By showcasing presentations that use diverse methodological approaches to studying physical activity, the session may also inspire new ideas for future research projects. Finally, experiences from implementation of physical activity programs and the perspectives from landscape architecture underscore the importance of translating evidence into practice to ensure that green and built environments truly serve as catalysts for active aging. Presentations of the Symposium Lower extremity functioning and land use shape active transport speed in older adults: A GPS derived geospatial study in an urban green area Aim: We investigated whether median speed (MS) of active transport differs according to lower extremity functioning and land use among older adults. Empirical studies using GPS are rare. Methods: GPS data was collected over 1-8 days for 231 community-dwelling ≥78-years AGNES study participants. We generated two MS geospatial rasters from GPS points indicating active transport (<5.56 m/s) in an urban green area with varied land use: ‘Low SPPB raster’ from GPS points of participants with poorer (SPPB score<10, n=67) and ‘High SPPB raster’ with better (SPPB score≥10, n=164) lower extremity functioning. We extracted land use (residential/service/industry_and_transport/nature_and_green/wetlands_and_water) from Corine Land Cover for each raster cell. We compared MS distribution between ‘Low’ and ‘High SPPB raster’ using Mann-Whitney U-Test and between land uses separately in the ‘Low’ and ‘High SPPB raster’ using Kruskal-Wallis Test. Results: MS was lower in the ‘Low’ compared to ‘High SPPB raster’ overall (1.11 vs. 1.33 m/s, p<.001) and in all land uses (all p<.001) except for service. MS was higher in industry_and_transport compared to residential land use (p<.05) in the ‘Low SPPB raster’ and compared to other land uses (all p<.001) except for wetlands_and_water in the ‘High SPPB raster’. Conclusions: Lower extremity functioning and land use are reflected in MS of active transport among older adults. Walkways next to traffic may challenge to faster pace and/or walking without frequent stops than other environments. Funding: KK: Juho Vainio Foundation; TR: ERC, RCF, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland. Keywords: older adults, active transport, green areas, land use Physical activity and urban green spaces in older adults - Results from a population-based study in Germany Purpose: To examine public green space use for physical activity, and explore associations with overall physical activity and health-related outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis within the population-based “Gesundheit zum Mitmachen” study in Bad Schoenborn, Germany (data collection: April-June 2025). The sample comprised 369 adults aged 50-90 years (197 females; mean [SD] age, 64 [9] years). 289 persons (151 females) completed questions regarding the use of 17 public green space locations for physical activity engagement. Results: The most frequently used locations (at least once per week) were walking route (N=55), quarry lake (N=36), and jogging route (N=33); facilities such as pump track, skate park or basketball court were not used. 111 participants (38%; 68 females) reported using at least one of 17 locations weekly, and analyses revealed a statistically significant sex but not age effect. Individuals who reported weekly use of at least one location had better subjective health (p<.01) and accumulated more MET-hours of sports activity per week (p=.02). Conclusions: While only a subset of older adults regularly uses public green spaces for physical activity, those who do exhibit favorable health outcomes and higher levels of sports-related activity. Access to outdoor environments may thus be one factor to facilitate physical activity and support healthy aging. Findings should be considered preliminary until confirmed by a prospective cohort study. Funding Source: The study was funded by AOK Mittlerer Oberrhein (health insurance provider) and the municipality of Bad Schoenborn. Keywords: Physical activity, green space, health, older adults Associations of natural environments and physical activity with depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of Finnish older adults Purpose: To investigate the associations of green and blue spaces and physical activity (PA) with depressive symptoms among Finnish older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data (N=621, 57% female, 68-70y.) were obtained from the Oulu45 cohort. Total depressive symptom score (20-80), comprising of positive mental well-being (9-36, reversed), depressed mood (8-32), and somatic symptoms (3-12) was assessed by Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA were measured by wrist-worn accelerometer (min/d). Green space (%) and blue space (no/yes) within a 500-meter buffer around home were based on land cover data. Linear regression models were adjusted fo socio-demogaphics and self-rated health. Results: Higher LPA (B=-0.007, SE=0.003) and presence of blue space (B=-2.307, SE=0.541) were associated with lower total SDS score when adjusted for socio-demographics. After further adjustment for self-rated health, the association with LPA was non-significant. Exploring the SDS factors separately, LPA (B=-0.004, SE=0.002) and blue space (B=-1.479, SE=0.323) were independently associated with higher positive mental well-being; green (B=-0.019, SE=0.007) and blue space (B=-0.566, SE=0.213) with lower depressed mood, and blue space (B=-0.320, SE=0.128) with fewer somatic symptoms. Conclusions: Older adults who engage in more daily light activity, have access to more greenery and some water in their residential area experience fewer depressive symptoms compared to their counterparts. Access to water may benefit mental well-being in general, while greenness may particularly counteract depressed mood and activity support positive mental well-being. Funding: Juho Vainio Foundation, Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM/19626/2024) Keywords: mental health, blue space, green space, accelerometry, older adults Promoting outdoor activities for older adults Purpose Methods Development Age Institute (AI) coordinates two national exercise programs (Older People on the Move and Strength in Old Age) in which promotion of outdoor activities is among key objectives. Implementation Older adults without functional limitations need information and ideas on activities. AI has developed various materials e.g. Nature parkour. Two webinars have been organized. Older adults with decreased functioning need more support. AI organizes training for professionals who then locally train volunteers to act as outdoor friends. Good practices have been developed e.g. Nature experience path. Frail older adults need support in everyday activities. The annual Go Out with the Elderly campaign promotes outdoor activities in safe company. AI challenges professionals, volunteers and families to participate. The campaign highlights the importance of daily outdoor activities. Evaluation The webinars reached nearly 700 participants. AI has trained over 530 professionals who in turn have trained almost 2000 outdoor friends. Nearly 359000 outdoor sessions are recorded in 14 years. Dissemination AI disseminates outdoor activities through a large national network of municipalities, wellbeing services counties and NGOs. Good practices are shared and disseminated on our website. Results National programs are important to enable older adults’ outdoor activities in various ways. Conclusions Older adults are a diverse group. It’s important to use different methods to promote outdoor activities. Keywords: active aging, older adults, outdoor activities | ||
