HaroldUrman
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Apr 8, 2009, 11:01 AM
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Residential fitness and recreation - the wellness satisfaction survey
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Spring is Here: Time to Be Fit & Have Fun!
By Harold Urman, Ph.D.
Increasingly, senior living communities are developing wellness centers (e.g., fitness centers, recreation centers, etc.) as one way to attract new residents and improve the health and quality of life for current residents. Despite their recent growth, little is known about the use of wellness centers or the benefits they provide.
Vital Research developed a survey focused on measuring resident satisfaction for wellness centers. The Wellness Center Satisfaction Survey includes questions about the following:
. Demographic information about the resident (e.g., gender, age)
. Frequency of Wellness Center use
. Previous experience with fitness
. Attitudes about health
. Changes in physical and emotional health since using the Wellness Center
. Satisfaction with Wellness Center facilities, services, and staff
Three senior living communities pilot tested the Wellness Center Satisfaction Survey to learn more about satisfaction and to find out how they could improve fitness and recreation services for their residents. 515 residents from the three facilities completed the survey.
FINDINGS
. Wellness Centers provided opportunities for many residents who had not previously engaged in physical activity to begin doing so. 33% of participants reported not maintaining physical fitness activity prior to using the Wellness Center.
. A majority of residents used their Wellness Centers frequently. 64% of participants reported using their Wellness Centers more than 3 times per week.
. Residents expressed positive attitudes about their health. 90% of participants believed their current health was either average or above average. Furthermore, 88% of participants believed that good health was in their future.
. Many residents reported either improved health or improved quality of life since using Wellness Centers. 41% of participants reported improved health; 55% of participants reported improved quality of life.
. Residents experienced positive changes in their fitness since using Wellness Centers. The most common physical improvements reported by participants were increases in strength (43%), endurance (40%), flexibility (39%), and energy levels (30%).
. Residents who used Wellness Centers more than three times per week were more likely to report increases in strength. 52% of participants who worked out 3 or more times per week reported increased strength compared to 38% of participants who worked out 1-2 times per week.
. The benefits of Wellness Center use were intensified for residents under the age of 70. Participants under the age of 70 were significantly more likely to report increases in coordination, speed, energy level, flexibility, and endurance than participants over the age of 70. Participants under 70 were also more likely than participants over 70 to report decreases in weight since using Wellness Centers.
. Several residents who used Wellness Centers reported improvements in physical health and emotional health problems. Nearly a quarter of participants reported improvement in the extent to which physical health limited their physical activities; 20% reported improvement in bodily pain. 12% of participants reported improvement in emotional problems that bothered them; 16% of participants reported improvement in the extent that physical health or emotional problems limited daily work or activities.
. Residents offered many suggestions for improving Wellness Centers. Participants commonly noted that more fitness equipment (e.g., cardio machines, weight machines) was needed and that current equipment be upgraded or repaired more regularly. Participants also often requested more frequent and diverse group class offerings (e.g.,dance classes, aquatic classes). Finally, several participants commented on the importance of adequate space and cleanliness in personal areas (e.g., locker rooms, bathrooms showers, etc.)
Finally, in addition to the positive physical changes that were found from using the fitness center, residents also experienced social benefits. Several participants noted that one of the greatest benefits received from using the fitness center are the social interactions with other residents. As one resident explained:
“Getting to know different people is something I enjoy. It seems as if we are one big, happy family.”
Another resident commented,
“I look forward to being there to meet fine new friends and have good times visiting while we each do our own exercises.”
Harold N. Urman, Ph.D. is an educational psychologist and co-founder of Vital Research, a consulting firm specializing in research and evaluation. Established in 1982 and based in Los Angeles, Vital Research is a national research and consulting firm with expertise in senior living services satisfaction measurement.
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(This post was edited by HaroldUrman on Apr 8, 2009, 1:27 PM)
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