EXERCISE AMONG THE ELDERLY AND NON-TRADITIONAL EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY THE ELDERLY DO NOT EXERCISE

摘要

Twenty percent of the US population will be over the age of sixty-five by 2030. All age groups within the greater than sixty-five population are growing, but those over the age of eighty-five are the fastest growing cohort of the US population. The specific aims of this investigation were (1) to determine if a correlation exists between maintaining a relationship with a primary care provider and heightened exercise levels among an elderly population and (2) to determine if a correlation exists between exercise among the elderly and the completion of more preventive screenings than those elderly who do not exercise. We hypothesized that those elderly who have an active relationship with a primary care provider are more prone to exercise and those elderly who exercise complete more preventive screenings. Results of this survey based investigation revealed that maintaining a relationship with a primary care physician is the norm for the vast majority of the Auburn, AL and New Orleans, LA population. Furthermore, the communication of exercise guidance during primary care physician appointments was inconsistent in the Auburn, AL population and not overwhelming in the New Orleans, LA population. Unfortunately, the discussion of such exercise guidance during an outpatient clinic appointment has not equated to a change in exercise levels among the survey respondents in the either population. Overall conclusion: this study provided the literature with more insights regarding knowledge and awareness of the relationship between primary care and preventive healthcare consumption and exercise levels among the elderly.