Quality Recommendations for Guided Health-Enhancing Physical Activity for Older People. Helsinki, 2004. 41pp. (Handbooks of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland; ISSN 1236-116X; 2004:6) ISBN 952-00-1512-4

The quality recommendations for health-enhancing physical activity for older people are based on the latest research as well as on tried and proved practice. The aim of the recommendations is to respond to needs that are related to different kinds of instruction situations in and types of physical activity. The recommendations define a target level for the quality of guided health-enhancing physical activity for older people. Guided physical activity for older people that is of good quality is defined as user-oriented, available, individual, flexible and continuous, safe, ethical and having good methods of assessment. The purpose of the publication on quality recommendations is to serve all those who decide on, plan, arrange or instruct health-enhancing physical activity for older people or who advise their clients to make use of physical activity services. In addition, the publication aims at motivating clients of physical activity groups to demand a good quality of health-enhancing physical activity services.

Guided health-enhancing physical activity for older people should be included in municipal well-being policies and strategies for old age care so that health-enhancing physical activity is included as a well-being factor in the strategies of the whole municipality and different sectors. In addition, the municipalities should support those who arrange health-enhancing physical activity by assessing frequently the sufficiency and availability of physical activity services as well as those who at the moment are left outside the services.

Providers of physical activity services should cooperate. All the service providers in a municipality should be represented in a cooperation group. Mutual exchange of information and coordination of activities enable a diversified supply of services.

Instructors of health-enhancing physical activity groups for older people should ensure that they have the necessary knowledge of instructing physical activity for older people and of health-enhancing physical activity. They should also actively develop their instructing skills and knowledge of different types of physical activity. Instructors should try to secure the safety of physical activity situations.

Clients should give feedback on physical activity services to the municipality, the service provider and the instructor. Feedback can help to improve the supply, targeting and location of services.

Key words: ageing, clients, cooperation, health, physical activity, quality, services