Fitness trails for continuing care retirement community residents: motivational cues to participation

The motivational elements necessary to encourage use of fitness trails by residents of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) was investigated. Previous research suggested that both the walking and exercise parts of these fitness trails are being used by only a small percentage of' the residents. A checklist was used to identify the number of motivational elements that were present in the design of the fitness trails at three CCRCs. A staff questionnaire was used to determine management involvement and fitness program specifics. This research investigates the extent to which Jane Jacobs’ (1961) work with sidewalks in cities can be applied to the fitness trail within the CCRC. The research questions generated for this study were: To what extent is the success of the fitness trail dependent on the intricate mutual support given it by its surrounding elements? Does a single activity or amenity contribute to the success of a fitness trail or is a variety of choices necessary for potential users to experience? Is this aspect of choice essential to participant satisfaction? The analysis identified several elements that may contribute to the use of a fitness trail by older adults. The use of the concept of tangible rewards by one of the CCRCs contributed to a significantly greater percentage of resident use.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Landscape Architecture

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Landscape Architecture

Department dc:contributor.department

Landscape Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Hall, Kenneth B.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/51912

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/51912