Food & Health Alliance

 The statement is intended to be realistic and to guide practice in a variety of ways, including:

• As a basis for developing and improving the care that nurses give to older people
• To stimulate learning among teams of nurses
• To promote effective interdisciplinary teamworking
• To determine whether a quality service is being provided
• To stimulate ideas and priorities for nursing research.

The statement suggests that there is now strong evidence to show that keeping physically active in older age is beneficial to health, prevents falls and prolongs functional independence. Even in frail older people there is evidence to show that regular opportunities for movement and physical activity can improve and maintain function. All healthcare professionals working with older people have a responsibility to promote physical activity to maintain functional independence. One of the barriers to encouraging older people in physical activity is that it can be considered by nursing staff to be a specialist interest. This best practice statement helps to challenge that view, and encourages nurses to consider how they can become significant in promoting movement and physical activity in older people.

In implementing the principles of good practice advocated within the statement, those working with dependent older people will in turn contribute to the delivery of the national physical activity recommendations for adults in later life by considering ways in which to improve physical surroundings, the range of activities available and the access to learning and workforce development opportunities for staff, thereby allowing all dependent older people (including younger disabled adults) to enjoy and benefit from appropriate movement and physical activities.