Young at Heart

Senior Playgrounds

By Cutright Elizabeth on Dec 8, 2016 in News

Forget sitting on a bench feeding pigeons; these days older adults are ditching the breadcrumbs for senior-friendly playgrounds.

We all know bodies at rest tend to stay at rest, and for older adults, physical activity can be particularly challenging. Fitness experts often counsel that the exercise is whatever is comfortable and convenient.

And what could be easier than a spending some time on the playground?

That’s certainly the notion behind senior citizen playgrounds. By putting the “fun” back in fitness, these next-generation playgrounds are designed to appeal to all ages.

“These playgrounds allow us to promote healthy living in cities across the country,” Humana President and CEO Bruce Broussard recently explained. “It’s important to us to make it easy for people to achieve their best health – kids and adults alike.”

Play Time

They’re calling it the “playability” movement: communities working to create safe spaces for families to have fun and stay active. In support of the cause, KaBOOM! has created the Playful City USA initiative with help from the Humana foundation.

“We are proud to partner with Humana to help give all children the childhood they deserve. We are confident that, together, we can help families make healthy, playful choices that build a new generation of ‘Healthy People,’” said Darell Hammond, CEO and Founder of KaBOOM! “Play matters – not just as an activity for children, but as a foundation for lifelong well-being and strong communities.”

Let’s Get Physical

In Europe and Asia, playgrounds for senior citizens provide low-impact exercise equipment to help older adults safely raise their heart rate. These parks often include elliptical machines, static bikes and other body flexor equipment for enhanced balance and flexibility.

“We wanted to break the myth of the old person coming to the park and just sitting while the grandkids play,” says Paz Vidal Physical in a Public Radio International (PRI) video about the play areas for older adults popping up around Spain, including 300 in Barcelona alone.

“It’s very social,” adds Vidal. “The parks help create family cohesion.”

In the US it’s the multigenerational aspect that’s sparked the KaBOOM!/Humana partnership. By providing a space for all ages to mingle and exercise, these parks strengthen community connections and encourage cross-generation communication.

“The playground in my neighborhood has really improved the quality of life for many people who live at Gateway Park,” said Marcus French, a Gateway Park resident in Portland, Ore., where Humana and KaBOOM! teamed up on a playground in the fall of 2012. “Now, everyone living at Gateway Park has a great place to gather together,” French said.

The Social Factor

For the seniors braving the swing set, the benefits go beyond physical. Isolation can be an easy trap for older adults. Coming to the playground allows them to forge friendships, make connections, and maybe even find love.

“Love in the elderly playground!” laughs Vidal. “No, but at least they get together for dinner. They start to create links.”

“Staying home is very boring,” says 84-year-old Francesca Guerrera in the PRI video. “You never think of the good things.”

“I am not someone to stay at home. I get out a lot,” she smiles as she waves goodbye to her playground pals.