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National Council on the Aging Launches Initiative to Encourage Physical Activity February 25, 2003 - The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) announced that it will sponsor a new national competition to identify the "best" physical activity programming for older adults. The competition will award $1,000 to 10 community-based organizations that achieve excellence in physical activity programming targeted at improving the health and well being of older Americans. "Community service organizations play a crucial role in promoting and supporting increased physical activity among older adults," said James P. Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. "These awards will honor the achievements of these organizations and promote their efforts as models of excellence." NCOA also announced the launch of a three-year initiative, supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to help community service organizations offer high quality, accessible physical activity programming for older Americans. The centerpiece of the initiative will be a national "census" of physical activity programs that will create a searchable database of local programs run by senior centers, community centers, YMCAs, and other organizations. Participants in the competition-winning programs will be studied to determine the health benefits of activities offered by these organizations. "We need to get the message out to older adults everywhere that it's never too late to start getting physically active and that the benefits are immediate," said NCOA Chair Molly Mettler, founder of the organization's Health Promotion Institute. "There are many good opportunities already in place, but it is very important to document them and identify and spread best practices." Despite overwhelming evidence demonstrating the now well-known benefits of physical activity, older adults have the lowest rates of activity among all adults. Nearly 75 percent of older Americans do not participate in any routine physical activities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, few older Americans achieve the minimum recommended 30 or more minutes of physical activity on five or more days a week. Lack of physical activity and poor nutrition contribute to the burden of chronic diseases and are the major causes of the obesity epidemic in this country. The NCOA project addresses a number of barriers identified by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Age 50 and Older, including the lack of high quality programming that meet the varied needs and preferences of older adults and help them incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives. Key partners in the initiative are the University of Illinois at Chicago, other leading universities with "Healthy Aging" Prevention Research Centers, and the Seniors Research Group in Michigan. Public and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for the awards. Physical activity programming should serve over 300 participants age sixty and over annually. Programming must offer multiple types of fitness activities (e.g., walking, aerobics, weight training, swimming, etc.) and be available on a regular basis (e.g., several times/week throughout most of the year). The deadline to apply is April 18th, 2003. For the award application and more information about the selection criteria, please visit the NCOA web site.
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