In Part 1, I raised the question of whether age-based titles for fitness classes (“senior”, “elderly”, “silver”, “golden oldies”) contribute to negative assumptions about older adults’ physical abilities based on their age. Or is an age-based title simply indicative of a particular demographic being served, in this case, older adults?
Part 2 references survey results from an informal physical activity questionnaire gathered from 106 actual class participants. This survey was conducted by a group of seasoned fitness and health professionals (Erin Eleuterio, Holly Benson, Jojo McDuffie, Patrician Linderman, Laura Dow, Cheryl Whitelaw, Jennifer Winters and Lynn Jordan) to help better understand whether older adults who attended structured physical activities thought age-based titles were positive or not.
After some identifying information (age, class participation in specifically labeled older adult fitness classes or other physical activity programs), respondents were asked, “Have you ever felt that a physical activity program labeled for older adults made assumptions about your abilities?”
Note the question was worded neutrally, “made assumptions”, not necessarily negative assumptions. We received 95 responses with a little over 15% of the replying, “No, never” and a large majority replying (over 75%) said “Yes, frequently/Yes, sometimes.”
A follow up question asked for comments and 65 replied. Here’s a sample:
- Assumed a very low level of fitness
- I felt like I have a label “old and slow”
- As a senior I must be frail
- Old, weak, limited
- Older adults can only lift light weights
- I noticed an assumption that my ability would be less than it actually is
- That being older means limited abilities
- That you couldn’t achieve greater strengths
- That my physical abilities are limited because of my age. Sort of a dumbing down for seniors
- They assumed a degree of frailty, which was completely wrong in my case
- It seemed they catered to lower functioning seniors, never taking into account that there are some very fit seniors
- I don’t trust that those working with mid-older adults really know the correct exercise physiology to teach movement in the correct way. Most are centered on “gentle” when I believe strength and vitality need to be centered as well
- The name indicates an age bias about ability
These replies all indicate negative assumptions made about participants’ physical abilities based on their age.
Were there any positive assumptions?
Yes, one comment mentioned: “Not assumption (but) more a case of providing appropriate modifications…”
Out of 65 comments, one comment was positive.
I found the results eye opening and a bit heartbreaking.
Are you surprised by these results and comments?
What do you think?