Exploring recreational activities of the aged in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

1. Exploring recreational activities ofthe agedin the Ashanti Region of Ghana BY *Foster Frempong and IddrisuAbubakari Kwame Nkrumah University of Scieence and Technology, Department of Geography and Rural Development Kumasi

2. "An old man sitting on the ground sees something a child can't see even if he climbs a tree." Dagbani proverb

3. Introduction • The aged are persons who are 65 years and over (Mba, 2002; United Nations, 2001) • The world’s aged population is expected to rise from 606 million in 2000 to almost 2 billion by 2050, representing an increase of about 230 percent over the period.

4. Introduction contd. • The aged may experience an increase incidence of age-related disease and disability • Aside natural causes, this might be due to lack of participation in active recreational activities or exercise

5. Introduction contd. • Participating in active recreational activities can enhance health, including: • reduced incidence of physical and mental health problems; • delay in functional decline; • reduction of chronic disease onset; and • stabilization of psychological and physical abilities

6. Introduction contd. • These make participation in recreational activities for the aged a MUST for good health and high quality of life • Increase in active recreation is a possible prevention strategy for cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (salmo et al, 2003).

7. Introduction contd. • Also participating in active recreation can strengthen social cohesion and make new friends. • Although there are lots of benefits of active recreation to the aged, there are large numbers of people who do not take part in recreational activities

8. Introduction contd. • Adults who spent more time in sedentary life style will have an increase likelihood of being overweight or obese (Takemi et al, 2008). • Recognition of the growing older population has generated increased research interest in this area.

9. The aged in Ghana • Greater numbers of people live up to two and three decades after retirement • The demographic profile of Ghana revealed that persons aged 65 years and above constitutes 5 per cent of the Ghanaian population (GSS, 2005).

10. The aged in Ghana contd. • Ghana’s ageing population had been precipitated more by rapid fertility decline and improvements in public health measures, personal hygiene, sanitation and nutrition • The aged population in Ghana • 1960 – 1970 12.5% 2000 – 2010 4.6% • 1970 – 1984 11.1% (1,167,532) • 1984 – 2000 32.5%

12. Problem statement • Routine active recreation improves one’s general physical health and decreases the risk of medical conditions • Studies have shown that active recreation plays a role in the maintenance of cognitive vitality in older age (Colcombe et al, 2004, Newson &Kemps, 2006)

13. Problem statement contd. • In the midst of these, many individuals still remain inactive. • Again, the rate of active recreation engagement declines with increasing age (Hamdorf, Starr, & Williams, 2002).

14. Problem statement • It is therefore necessary to understand more about those factors which may influence individual participation in recreational activities for the aged

15. Objectives • Examine motivational factors to leisure time active recreation participation among the Jachie society of the aged • Examine constraints to participation in recreational activities by the aged

16. Study Area • Jachie is a town in the Bosomtwe District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana • Temperature of the area seems to be uniformly- high and throughout the year with a mean of around 24ºC. • Relative humidity (RH) is generally high throughout the year

17. Study area contd. • Jachie society of the Aged was formed in 2005 with an initial population of 70. • It now has a population of 305, 105 males and 200 females. • Members of the association were mainly from the Jachie Township

19. Study area contd. • Jachie has two health facilities: One Government health center and an eye clinic • Cross-sectional study design was used for the study

20. Findings from the study Sex of respondents

22. Reported health conditions of respondents

23. Recreational activities among respondents

24. **1=Extremely unimportant, 2=Slightly important, 3=Average, 4=Important, 5=Extremely important

25. Motivation for leisure • Motivation for leisure for the aged could be classified into: • Fitness motive • Enjoyment and fun motive • Social motive • There was a very weak negative relationship between age and fitness motive

26. Constraints to participating in leisure activity Intrapersonal – Lack of energy, lack of interest, health problems and age Interpersonal – Lack of encouragement, no partner, no external motivation Structural - Transportation, financial cost and inconvenient

27. **1=Extremely unimportant, 2=Slightly important, 3=Average, 4=Important, 5=Extremely important

29. Recommendations • Awareness creation – By government and recreational facilities providers • Educational programmes should be instituted, promoted and sustained for the aged • There should be planned pension programme to empower the aged financially.

30. Old age in Africa is considered a blessing - people grow old and get a special status • http://www.squidoo.com/genuine-respect-for-old-aged-people-in-african-tradition - accessed 3 - 08 - 2012

31. THANK YOU