Characteristics of Aged Participants and Non-Participants in Age-Segregated Leisure Program

Abstract

Morale and Life Satisfaction measures were used as independent variables to compare elderly subjects' degrees of participation in an organized leisure program. In examining the first 6 months of membership in a community center of 109 non-institutionalized aged, it was found that 42% became regular users of the age-segregated older adult program, 36% were erratic users, and 21% were non-users. Upon comparing their morale and life satisfaction ratings, low scores on these two measures were found to be significantly related to erratic use of services, while high morale and life satisfaction were significantly associated with regular use. The findings suggest that practitioners serving the elderly be especially mindful of the intermittent users who can be easily overlooked and yet might well have the greatest need.