Promoting Active Ageing in Older People from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups

Promoting active ageing among older adults from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups through the uptake and subsequent adherence of physical activity is an important public health issue. Although health promotion among older people is no longer a focus of practice for health visitors, they still have a key role as part of the multidisciplinary team by assessing levels of physical activity, identifying actual and potential barriers to increasing physical activity, facilitating equitable access to physical activity programmes and services, and enabling older adults from BME groups to achieve the recommended physical activity levels through adapting and tailoring information and advice. Additionally, health visitors can act on the wider social determinants of health that may influence behaviour change to reduce inequalities in access to physical activity, provision and referral by lobbying locally and nationally for improvements in local access to exercise and physical activity programmes, transport and creating built and natural environments that promote and support physical activity.