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Active Options for Aging Americans: Using the Web to Increase Accessibility to Physical Activity Programs www.activeoptions.org. Serena Sanker, MS Senior Program Associate NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging November 9, 2006
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Active Options for Aging Americans:Using the Web to Increase Accessibility to Physical Activity Programswww.activeoptions.org Serena Sanker, MS Senior Program Associate NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging November 9, 2006 Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Partners • National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) Center for Healthy Aging • CDC’s Healthy Aging Research Network (PRC-HAN) • Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (C.H.E.F.) • CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • National Blueprint
Goals of the Teleconference • After this teleconference, participants will be able to….. • Briefly describe the initiatives related to physical activity that are being implemented by NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging; • Describe the background and importance of Active Options, a national effort to create an online, searchable database of physical activity programs for older adults; • Utilize the web-based tool to enter information about a community physical activity program, or access information about programs available in a particular geographic area.
NCOA’s Physical Activity Initiatives • 5-yr Grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – 3 parts • Best Practices in PA Programming for Older Adults Competition (2003) • Impact Study of 3 of the top 10 Best Practice programs • Conducted by UIC (2004-2006) • Census of PA community-base PA programs for older adults (2005-2007) = Active Options
What is Active Options? • www.activeoptions.org • A web-based survey AND searchable database of community physical activity (PA) programs for older adults.
History of Active Options • RWJF funded NCOA to conduct a national census of physical activity (PA) programs for older adults • 2002 - CDC’s Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) developed and conducted a paper-based survey of PA programs in 7 communities • Included several questions that coincided with the info NCOA/RWJF wanted to collect during census • S.L. Hughes, B. Williams, L.C. Molina, C.Bayles, L.L. Bryant, J.R. Harris, MD, R. Hunter, S. Ivey, K. Watkins. (2005) Characteristics of Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults: Results of a Multisite Survey.The Gerontologist 45:667-675.
History of Active Options- Cont’d • 2005 - NCOA’s existing partnership with the HAN led to the agreement to translate the paper survey into a web-base survey = Active Options • University of Washington’s Prevention Research Center is lead university for the HAN & has been in charge of developing the Active Options site • Also conducted usability studies of older adult end users • Inspiration = Get in SHAPE Chicago! & Shape Up! King County • www.shapeupkingcounty.org • www.shapechicago.org
What is the purpose of Active Options? • Overall goal: Improve accessibility to senior-friendly, community-based physical activity programming. • Many older adults know they should increase their levels of PA, they just don’t know where to go. • Active Options helps PA program providers reach more potential participants – for FREE! • Active Options allows PA programmers, researchers, and policy makers to identify gaps in PA programming.
Physical Activity and Older Adults • About 28-34% of adults ages 65-74, and 35-44% of adults ages 75 and older are inactive, not exercising, and engaging in no leisure time physical activities (Bylina et al, 2006). • Between 1998 and 2004, physical activity participation was increasing for the entire 50+ age group. BUT, recent data comparing 2003 to 2004, show that there was an across-the-board decline in PA among people 50 and older (AARP, 2005). • Women 50 and older are more than twice as likely as 50+ men to frequently or occasionally miss activities due to a lack of transportation.
3 Steps – From Program Entry to Program Query • Step 1: PA program providers create an account and complete the survey for their programs • Step 2: The program is confirmed by a local Community Champion and is listed in the searchable database • Step 3: End users (e.g., older adults, health care providers, I&R/A specialists, researchers) visit the Active Options site to find PA programs in their communities
3 Steps – From Program Entry to Program Query • Step 1: PA program providers create an account and complete the survey for their programs • Step 2: The program is confirmed by a local Community Champion and is listed in the searchable database • Step 3: End users (e.g., older adults, health care providers, I&R/A specialists, researchers) visit the Active Options site to find PA programs in their communities
Step 2: Community Champions • Community Champions (CC) are being identified for geographic regions – states, counties, or major metro areas • CCs are leaders in aging, PA, and/or public health • A CC or team of CCs will coordinate local activities for each geographic region • Programs are reviewed for legitimacy and validated for posting by the regional CC • The Active Options site includes a section for CCs • Tools & resources to help CCs manage the roll-out
Example of an Activity Guide • Get in SHAPE Chicago! Guide • www.shapechicago.org • Printed listing of PA programs • A similar publication can be created for the communities that get involved in Active Options
3 Steps – From Program Entry to Program Query • Step 1: Community organizations create an account and complete the survey for their PA programs • Step 2: The program is confirmed by a local Community Champion and is listed in the searchable database • Step 3: Older adults, health care providers, I&R specialists, researchers, and others visit the Active Options site to find PA programs in their communities
Step 1: Program Entry/Survey • PA program provider visits the Active Options home page, www.activeoptions.org • Selects his/her community • Completes survey = Approx. 15-20 mins. to complete • Can save and continue later • Information must be updated at least once a year, but more often if necessary. • Quarterly e-mail reminders will be automatically generated
Examples of Questions • How do you describe your organization? • City/County Parks & Rec, Community Center, Hospital, Sr. Center, etc. • Please indicate if you offer any of the following programs: Active Choices, A Matter of Balance, Active for Life, etc.
Examples of Questions - Cont’d • Please indicate the different types of programs offered: aerobic exercise, stationary equipment, water aerobics, yoga, free weights, etc. • What percentage of your PA program participants fall into the following age categories? • Under age 20, Ages 21-34, Ages 35-39, Age 60 and older
3 Steps – From Program Entry to Program Query • Step 1: Community organizations create an account and complete the survey for their PA programs • Step 2: The program is confirmed by a local Community Champion and is listed in the searchable database • Step 3: Older adults, health care providers, I&R specialists, researchers, and others visit the Active Options site to find PA programs in their communities
Database Query Functions • Persons will be able to search the database by zip code and possibly county • Will also geocode program sites so they can be seen on a map • Data can be analyzed to: • Determine the types of programs that are available to older adults in the community • Identify areas with inadequate programming
Launch of Active Options • Beta testing took place through the entire state of WV, and 6 rural counties in TX (Jan – March, 2006) • Currently launching site in the 9 HAN communities and 3 regions in Michigan • Will soon be launching in the state of Arkansas & Montgomery Co., MD • Currently recruiting communities nationwide • Counties, major metropolitan areas, Area Agency on Aging regions
QUESTIONS? serena.sanker@ncoa.org or activeop@u.washington.edu