ENJOY

Active ageing in the outdoors for older people: working together for a healthier world

Creating inclusive and accessible outdoor environments that encourage and provide opportunities for older adults to engage in physical activity and social interaction is important for healthy ageing.

The National Ageing Research Institute in partnership with several local governments, government bodies and stakeholders have been working together to create age-friendly outdoor spaces for older people to engage in physical and social activities for healthier and liveable cities and communities in Victoria.

The design of outdoor public spaces, including parks, leisure spaces and outdoor exercise equipment should be inclusive of all ages and abilities. We have provided some practical recommendations and suggestions for the design of age friendly outdoor spaces.

For further details please contact the project leader Professor Pazit Levinger.

Relevant research publications

Brusco N, Hill K, Haines T, Dunn J, Panisset M, Dow B, Batchelor F, Biddle S, Duque G, Levinger P. Cost-effectiveness of the ENJOY Seniors Exercise Park for older people: a pre-post intervention study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2023, 20 (6), 555-565

Levinger P, Cerin E, Milner C, Hill KD. Older people and nature: the benefits of outdoors, parks and nature in light of COVID-19 and beyond–where to from here? International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 2021 Mar 7:1-8

Levinger P, Dunn J, Abfalter E, Dow B, Batchelor F, Garrat S, Diamond N, Hill K. The ENJOY MAP for HEALTH: Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY for older people—More Active People for HEALTHier communities: a study protocol. BMC Public Health 22, 1027, 2022.

Levinger P; Dunn J; Panisset M; Dow B; Batchelor F; Biddle S; Duque G; Hill K. Challenges and lessons learnt from the ENJOY project: recommendations for future collaborative research implementation framework with local governments for improving the environment to promote physical activity for older people. BMC Public Health 2021, 21:1192.

Levinger P; Dunn J; Panisset G, M; Haines, T; Dow B; Batchelor F; Biddle S; Duque G; Hill K. The Effect of the ENJOY Seniors Exercise Park Physical Activity Program on Falls in Older People in the Community: A Prospective Pre-Post Study Design. J Nutr Health Aging, 2022.

Levinger P, Fearn M, Dreher B, Bauman A, Brusco N, Gilbert A, Soh S, Burton E, James L, Hill K. The ENJOY Seniors Exercise Park IMP-ACT project: IMProving older people's health through physical ACTivity: a hybrid II implementation design study protocol. Archives of Public Health, 2024, 82(1), 43

Levinger P, Goh A M Y, Dunn J, Katite J, Paudel R, Onofrio A, Batchelor F, Panisset, D. Hill, K.D Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY—ENJOY program for independence in dementia: a feasibility pilot randomised controlled trial study protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 2022, 8, 66.

Levinger P, Goh A M Y, Dunn J, Katite J, Paudel R, Onofrio A, Batchelor F, Panisset, D. Hill, K.D Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY – results from the ENJOY program for independence in dementia: a feasibility pilot randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics 2023, 23(1): 1-16

Levinger P; Panisset M; Dunn J; Haines T; Dow B; Batchelor F; Biddle S; Duque G; Hill K. Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY for older people – the ENJOY senior Exercise Park project translation research protocol. BMC Public Health, 2019 19:933.

Levinger P, Panisset M, Dunn J, Haines T, Dow B, Batchelor F, Biddle S, Duque G, Hill KD: Exercise interveNtion outdoor proJect in the cOmmunitY for older people – Results from the ENJOY Senior Exercise Park project translation research in the community. BMC Geriatric 2020, 20:446.

Levinger P; Panisset M; Dunn J; Haines T; Dow B; Batchelor F; Biddle S; Duque G; Hill K. The ENJOY project – usage and factors to support adherence and physical activity participation. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine 2021, 6 (3): 1-6.

Levinger P, Panisset M, Parker H, Batchelor F, Tye M, Hill KD. Guidance about age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment and associated strategies to maximise usability for older people. Health Promot J Austral. 2020;00:1–8

Levinger P, Sales M, Polman R, Haines T, Dow B, Biddle SJH, Duque G, Hill KD: Outdoor physical activity for older people-the senior exercise park: Current research, challenges and future directions. Health Promot J Austr 2018:1-7.

Ng Y, Hill D K, Levinger P, Jacques A, Burton E. Seniors exercise park program for older adults with mild balance dysfunction – a feasibility study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 2022

Sales MP, Polman R, Hill KD, Karaharju-Huisman T, Levinger P: A novel dynamic exercise initiative for older people to improve health and well-being: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics 2015, 15:68.

Sales M, Polman R, Hill KD, Levinger P: A Novel Exercise Initiative for Seniors to Improve Balance and Physical Function. Journal of Aging and Health 2017, 29(8):1424.

Sales M, Polman R, Hill K, Levinger P: Older adults’ perceptions to a novel outdoor exercise initiative: a qualitative analysis. J Aging Soc Change 2018, 8 (1):61-78.

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