Healthy Aging in Parks is NRPA’s campaign to improve and maintain the health and well-being of older adults through parks and recreation.
Through the Healthy Aging in Parks initiative, NRPA aims to combat social isolation and foster intergenerational connectedness by advancing the Healthy Aging Framework and activating park and recreation systems to center and advance health equity and promote positive outcomes across all seven dimensions of well-being—cultural, economic, emotional, environmental, intellectual, physical and social.
NRPA’s Healthy Aging Framework contains strategies, resources and case study examples to help park and recreation agencies leverage their strengths, relationships and resources to advance systems change approaches that support healthy aging. The framework is grounded in a health equity lens and focuses on including all generations and people to build social and intergenerational connectedness through parks and recreation. It is intended to meet park and recreation agencies where they are and provide suggestions, guidance and examples from the field that highlight effective and equitable healthy aging approaches. The framework guides park and recreation professionals through seven key pathways to equitably advancing healthy aging and strengthening social and intergenerational connection.
NRPA researchers conducted interviews with staff at five park and recreation sites. The discussions centered on the kinds of older adult programming their agencies offer, how these programs provide opportunities for social and intergenerational connections, perceived gaps/challenges, opportunities and emerging trends, and how park and recreation agencies are uniquely positioned to support healthy aging.
The National Recreation and Park Association is proud to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand the delivery and dissemination of the Walk With Ease, Active Living Every Day, Fit & Strong!, Enhance®Fitness and Tai Chi for Arthritis. These programs improve physical activity, engagement and the quality of life for older adults to help them age in place.
NRPA, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), works with several local park and recreation agencies in an effort to improve linkages between traditional healthcare organizations and parks and recreation through the development of an electronic health record (EHR) referral pathway. Download the Electronic Health Record Planning Guide to learn how to improve the health of the communities you serve.
Explore the latest Healthy Aging in Parks resources: research, and news.
