Engaging Our Older Adults Through Sport

It's been proven that older adults have immediate and long-term benefits from engaging in physical activity. These include balance and coordination, chronic diseases prevention and management, and opportunities for socialization. As the most sedentary population, older adults engage less in physical activity as the years go on, which has a direct effect on their mental and physical health. With the largest Senior Softball League in the state of Kentucky, Louisville Parks and Recreation has been engaging more than 200 older adult participants each year since 1989. We host a variety of older adult activities focused around sports, including chair volleyball, basketball, aqua fitness classes, pickleball and more. Learn how our older adult participants are engaged in sports year-round, their feedback, the benefit of team sports and how these activities can easily be practiced in your agency!

Learning Objectives: 

1. Attendees will recognize the importance of physical activity for older adults in their community. 

2. Attendees will create their dream older adult sports program for their target demographic. 

3. Attendees will be able to define the need for socialization and team sports for older adults.