Reading Assignment

The following information was taken from the publication Physical Activity & Aging: Implications for Health & Quality of Life in Older Persons published by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Introduction

"America is aging rapidly. At the beginning of the twentieth century persons over sixty-five years of age constituted approximately four percent of the American population, whereas they now represent more than 12 percent of all Americans.

By the year 2020 this group is expected to increase to nearly twenty percent of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 1990). When expressed in absolute numbers, the statistics are equally impressive. In the United States today there are currently approximately 36 million people over the age of 65.

"This number is expected to almost double to 70 million by the year 2030 (Geographic Profile, 1993). Even more remarkable is the increase in the number of the very oldest members of our society

The 'old-old,' that is, individuals over the age of 85 years, constitute the most rapidly growing segment of society (Shephard, 1997). By the year 2030, it is anticipated that over eight million Americans will be 85 years of age or older (Fowles, 1991).

There can be little doubt that such a dramatic increase in the number of older adults will have far reaching implications for society. Advancing age is associated with predictable sensory, motor, and cognitive changes, many of which have the potential to impact an older person's ability to function effectively in society (Chodzko-Zajko, 1996). Fortunately, although functional decline is an inevitable consequence of old age, aging does not occur at a similar rate in all individuals."

The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity:

Whenever possible an attempt is made to address both the acute effects of a single bout of physical activity, as