Download 2024 Senior Healthy Living Survey

Senior Healthy Living Survey // Download 2024 Senior Healthy Living Survey

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Participation in physical activities is up this month. In April, 18% of Seniors reported not participating in any physical activity (-4pts vs. Mar and -8pts vs. Feb). Most Seniors participating in physical activity prefer to do so at home (71%) (+2pts vs. Mar), compared to in the community (26%) (+/- 0pt vs. Mar) or at a gym (18%) (+2pts vs. Mar).
Lack of motivation (33%) (-4pts vs. Mar and -13pts vs. Feb) remains the top reason why Seniors are not participating in physical activity; however, the share is down considerably since March and February. Having other priorities (20%) (+11pts vs. Mar) and not being able to afford a fitness membership (17%) (+9pts vs. Mar) see increases this month.
Better weather (25%) (-3pt vs. Mar) continues to be the top motivator for Seniors’ whose level of physical activity is the same or worse compared to 3 months ago. Finding someone else such as a friend or family member to workout with (24%) (+9pts vs. Mar) and having enough self-motivation (21%) (+7pts vs. Mar) see increases this month as reasons that would motivate Seniors to spend more time exercising or doing physical activity each day.
Less than a quarter (21%) of Seniors feel lonely in April (-3pts vs. Mar). This month, 35% of Seniors feel they lack companionship (+/-0pts vs. Mar), 32% feel left out (+1pt vs. Mar), and 34% (+3pts vs. Mar) feel isolated from others.

Participation in physical activities is up this month following a decrease last month. In March, 22% of Seniors reported not participating in any physical activity (-4pts vs. Feb). Most Seniors participating in physical activity prefer to do so at home (69%) (+3pts vs. Feb), compared to in the community (26%) (+5pts vs. Feb) or at a gym (16%) (+/- 0pt vs. Feb).
Lack of motivation (37%) (-9pts vs. Feb) remains the top reason why Seniors are not participating in physical activity; however, the share is down considerably since last month. Experiencing chronic pain (32%) (-4pts vs. Feb) is also down this month whereas recovering from an illness/surgery (15%) (+5pts vs. Feb) is up compared to February.
Better weather (28%) (-1pt vs. Feb) continues to be the top motivator for Seniors’ whose level of physical activity is the same or worse compared to 3 months ago. With the onset of warmer weather, we should expect more participation in physical activity. 43% of Seniors whose level of physical activity is better compared to 3 months ago say the reason for their improvement is better weather (+17pts vs. Feb).
Less than a quarter (24%) of Seniors feel lonely in March, the same rate as February. This month, 35% of Seniors feel they lack companionship (+/-0pts vs. Feb), 31% feel left out (+/-0pts vs. Jan), and 31% (-2pts vs. Jan) feel isolated from others.

Participation in physical activities is down this month. Last month, just 19% of Seniors reported not participating in any physical activity, while this month 26% of Seniors report not participating in any physical activity. Most Seniors participating in physical activity prefer to do so at home (66%) (-4pts vs. Jan), compared to in the community (21%) (-3pts vs. Jan) or at a gym (16%) (-1pt vs. Jan).
Lack of motivation (44%) (-2pts vs. Jan) remains the top reason why Seniors are not participating in physical activity. Notably, the share of Seniors who cannot afford a fitness membership (16%) (+8pts vs. Jan), are worried about exercising safely (11%) (+6pts vs. Jan), or do not have access to at-home equipment (10%) (+6pts vs. Jan) are also all up compared to last month.
Like last month, better weather (29%) (+1pt vs. Jan) is the top motivator for Seniors’ whose level of physical activity is the same or worse compared to 3 months ago. Self-motivation (17%) (+2pts vs. Jan), finding someone to workout with (17%) (+4pts vs. Jan), and a change in one’s personal life (12%) (+3pts vs. Jan) are also reasons that would motivate Seniors to spend more time exercising.
Less than a quarter (24%) of Seniors feel lonely in February (23% in January). This month, 35% of Seniors feel they lack companionship (+1pt vs. Jan), 31% feel left out (+4pts vs. Jan), and 33% (+1pt vs. Jan) feel isolated from others.

Most Seniors participating in physical activity prefer to do so at home (70%), compared to in the community (24%) or at a gym (17%). Activities such as housework, yardwork, or gardening (53%) are the most frequent, but other exercises and workouts are conducted at-home as well. Encouragingly, more than four-in-five active Seniors average 2+ days of physical activity per week.
Motivation is a key deterrent to participation in physical activity among Seniors. Close to half (44%) say they are not motivated enough to engage in physical activity. Notwithstanding, many Seniors are also experiencing chronic pain (40%), making it difficult for them to participate even if they had the motivation to do so. 14% also say they are recovering from an illness or surgery.
A multitude of health conditions affect the ability for Seniors, even those already participating in physical activity, to do more physical activity. The most common are lower back pain (31%), arthritis of the hip or knee (30%), and hypertension or high blood pressure (22%).
Less than a quarter (23%) of Seniors feel lonely in January. This month, 34% of Seniors feel they lack companionship, 27% feel left out, and 32% feel isolated from others.