THENAPA
II: "Ageing and disability - a new crossing between physical
activity, social inclusion and life-long well-being"
Recently, the traditional disability model has changed to
agree with the suggestion that disability develops not only
from disease but also from lifestyle choices. Ageing is a
process that often affects and restricts the people who are
growing old, on physical, psychological and social level.
As older adults are the fastest growing age group, attention
needs to be given to them as a special population in the area
of exercise and sport. Qualified professionals in the area
of physical activity for the elderly have to be prepared now,
so they can meet the new demands of the future.
The Thematic Network is needed:
to define the current situation at the European Higher
education institutions in relation to what extent the subject
of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) is included in the curricula
of the future service providers (physical educators, sport
and fitness instructors, kinesitherapists, occupational
therapists, nursing staff, all professional elderly caregivers,
social workers).
to create a basic profile and implement the subject of
adapted physical activity for the elderly in the European
higher education curricula, in order to compensate for the
current lack of information and resources in that specific
domain.
