1.1 Introduction
Exercise for elderly comprises the daily living activities, interests or hobbies and living demands they must fulfill each day (Taylor et al., 2008). World Health Organization (2017) recommends at least 150 min of moderate or 75 min of vigorous aerobic physical activity for individuals aged 65 years and above (or an equivalent combination). Few researches have targeted effects of exercise on old people. Daily movement or activities reduces with advance in age however this does not mean that it is not necessary for old people to do exercise. Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal requirements of senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities and health care, but who desire to age with dignity (Ayres, 2008).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Older adults with higher exercise fulfillment demonstrated better mental and psychological health, regardless of their physical activity levels. Older adults with low-exercise fulfillment could potentially improve their physical abilities; however, their mental and psychological health significantly differed from that of older adults with medium or high-exercise fulfillment after exercise intervention. These findings provide preliminary evidence, which indicates that exercise can provide sufficient fulfillment and contribute to the promotion and improvement of health in older adults. Moreover, performing adequate tests on exercise fulfillment may aid in assessing the effects of intervention programs in healthcare system (Sakurai et al., 2012, 743-54).
As it has been noted that the majority of the population is aging, there is a great need for health promotion of elderly in order to enable them to carry out day to day tasks independently. Exercise as the most common and effective way of boosting health has been advocated among elderly for years. However, elderly people who have multi-illnesses have restricted activities due to their general condition. By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women engaged in no physical activity (Harber 2007, 139).
According to the authors of this thesis, exercise has been underestimated or even ignored in real implementation which brings about patients' physical deterioration. The authors of this thesis have encountered various examples during previous practical experiences. In health care it has been assumed that health is basically maintained through nutrition and drugs. For example, sleeping problem is more common with the elderly and it surely affects individuals and their families. Often elderly patients use a lot of drugs for this problem including sleeping pill many of which have side effects. The results of Fa¡bio' s present study indicate that, elderly subjects submitted to chronic moderate training presenting improved sleep quality (Fábio & Gustavo & Ronaldo & Lila & Damaso & Nascimento & Valter & Boscolo & Grassmann & Santana & Esteves & Tufik & Mello 2011, 113-118.)
The purpose of this research is to explore ways in which exercise functions as a boost to elderly health promotion. The increasing number of people living longer has led to international interest in the enhancement of quality of life and health-related quality of life in older age (Bowling 2005, 1).
The theoretical part of this research entails aging, types and effects of exercise to elderly, health issues of elderly and nurses' role in promotion of exercise on elderly health. The empirical part was carried out in Finland (Purola elderly home), Kenya (Eldoret and Cherangani nursing home) and China (Ri Yuexing elderly home). This research is meant to be utilized by other researchers, student nurses, paramedics, family members of elderly and any potential readers.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Exercise as a Boost for the Health Promotion of the Elderly.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Nurses get in contact with patients on a daily basis, so they are exposed to sharp injuries and many types of infections due to the nature of their occupation. It is important to follow standard precautions to reduce transmission of infections. In Palestine, despite of the availability of protocol for infection control in hospitals, it is applicable in varied degree from hospital to hospital. In addition, after reviewing documents from Palestinian Health Information Centre in MOH, it doesn't have any statistics regarding nurses' knowledge and practice of SP measures and those related to SI among health care workers. In addition, it doesn't have any statistics regarding health care workers who have SI or who acquired infection during work. As an expected outcome, this study will identify the importance of nurses' knowledge about SP measures and those related to SI. Also it will highlight the size of problem of stick injuries among workers during work.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to explore research work titled “Exercise as a Boost for the Health Promotion of the Elderly”. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To explore ways in which exercise functions as a boost to elderly health in multicultural environment.
- To find out the overall view of elderly awareness and experiences about exercise.
- To find out the role played by nurses in provision of exercise to elderly.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the elderly experiences about exercise?
- How do elderly implement exercise?
- How do the elderly experience the effects of exercise on their health?
- What is nurses' role in promotion of exercise among elderly?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant role played by nurses in provision of exercise to elderly.
- H1: There is a significant role played by nurses in provision of exercise to elderly.
1.7 Significance of Study
The result will help to provide basic information for designing structures and programmes for the care of the elderly in the community. It will also provide evidence based information for health education on graceful ageing. It will serve as a reference material to other researchers in the field of community health practice.
Findings of the study will help in showing the level of knowledge and attitude of the health workers towards the care of the elderly and will help improve the decision making. This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Exercise as a Boost for the Health Promotion of the Elderly in Enugu Primary Health Care Facility.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Perception: To notice something in a particular way or hold a view about something.
Access to Healthcare Programs: Access to healthcare programs is defined as one’s ability to obtain and appropriately use good quality health technologies and commodities when needed for good health (Frost & Reich, 2008).