Technology of Planning and Management of Leisure Activities for Working Elderly People with a Low Level of Physical Activity

Abstract

The publications of recent years show the activity of researchers in the field of development and implementation of health programs for elderly people, which will help delay the aging process of the body. The aim of our study was to provide a theoretical rationale for the technology of planning and management of recreational and healthenhancing leisure activities for elderly people, to determine its scope and to identify the conditions for its optimal functioning and implementation. Methods and organization of the study: scientific and methodological literature review, sociological methods, pedagogical methods, method for assessment of the level of physical activity, method for assessment of the level of physical working capacity, method for assessment of the psychoemotional state using well-being-activity-mood (WAN) questionnaire, method for measuring pain using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, method for testing cognitive functions with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test, and methods of mathematical statistics. A total of 58 people aged 60 to 73 years participated in the study, among them 28 respondents were included in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. They had a healthy lifestyle and visited social centers to participate in health walking activities. Results: Development and implementation of the technology of planning and management of recreational and health activities in the experimental group resulted in improvements in physical working capacity, psycho-emotional state, the level of pain, cognitive functions, and the level of somatic health of elderly people as compared with the control group. Conclusions: The program of recreational and health activities has a positive effect and improves the physical working capacity of elderly people as well as plays a decisive role in improving health and reducing the rate of aging.