Elderly Activity in Long-Term Care Facilities and the Effect on Daily Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Currently, in Michigan, there are no regulations in place for physical activity required for those in long-term care facilities. As the population grows older, research must be continuously done to ensure this population is properly cared for and catered to. As a result, this study’s purpose is to determine the effect of physical activity interventions on life satisfaction within the geriatric population, living in long-term care facilities. This study used 13 participants at Michigan Masonic Home in Alma, Michigan who classify as level one and/or two services. The following study is a randomized control trial where participants are randomly split into a control and experimental group. It was conducted for six consecutive weeks in the fall of 2023.

The experimental group did a series of physical activities twice a week for three weeks. The physical activities included yoga, dancing, cardio drumming, walking, resistance band exercises, and carnival activities. The control group played board games twice a week for three weeks. These included Yahtzee, Apples to Apples, Bingo, Checkers, Pictionary, and Clue. After the completion of three weeks, those in the experimental and control group switched interventions. Due to the small study population and lack of compliance, this study did not find any conclusive correlation between physical activity and life satisfaction (P=0.54). Conversely, the study did not find any significant association between playing board games and an increase in life satisfaction. However, further research should continue to study the impact that physical activity has on life satisfaction in the geriatric population.