abstract: 'Rapid ageing in western societies is placing increasing strain on health

  and social care services. In response, governments and health agencies

  have sought to promote healthy ageing through a range of interventions,

  many of which aim to enhance social engagement and participation among

  older people. Such interventions are based on evidence that being

  socially engaged through participation in various activities leads to

  better physical, mental and psychosocial health outcomes. The research

  reported here employed focus groups and individual interviews to address

  research aims: (a) identify enablers and barriers to participation in

  community-based group activities among a sample of older people (n = 35,

  median age 71 years) living in a local government area in the northern

  suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, and (b) examine how these factors

  differ between those who regularly participate and those who do not. Our

  research highlighted four themes: Friendship and Function; Availability

  and Accessibility; Competing Responsibilities and Priorities; and

  Changing of the Guard. In particular, this research highlighted the

  importance of group activities in offering social support as a platform

  to develop friendships. The findings also indicated that opportunities

  for social interaction should be embedded in the structure of the group,

  beyond that which may occur incidentally during activities. This is

  important, given that while interest may motivate older people to join a

  group, a sense of belonging and connectedness generated through the

  group is more likely to maintain their attendance. Barriers included

  limited availability of local programmes, limited accessibility related

  to programme scheduling, and lack of programmes relevant to those who do

  not find traditional seniors'' centres appealing. Recommendations include

  incorporating social engagement as an outcome measure when evaluating

  the efficacy of programmes targeting older people, and encouraging local

  governments to work with seniors'' centres in developing activities

  attractive to a broader cohort of older people.'
affiliation: 'Dare, J (Corresponding Author), Edith Cowan Univ, 270 Joondalup Dr,
  Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.

  Dare, Julie; Wilkinson, Celia; Marquis, Ruth, Edith Cowan Univ, 270 Joondalup Dr,
  Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.

  Wilkinson, Celia, Curtin Univ, Bentley, WA, Australia.

  Donovan, Robert J., Univ Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.'
author: Dare, Julie and Wilkinson, Celia and Marquis, Ruth and Donovan, Robert J.
author-email: J.dare@ecu.edu.au
author_list:
- family: Dare
  given: Julie
- family: Wilkinson
  given: Celia
- family: Marquis
  given: Ruth
- family: Donovan
  given: Robert J.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1111/hsc.12600
eissn: 1365-2524
files: []
issn: 0966-0410
journal: HEALTH \& SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
keywords: 'group activities; Older people; participation; social connectedness;

  social engagement; social interaction'
keywords-plus: 'PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY; SOCIAL-PARTICIPATION; MENTAL-HEALTH; INVOLVEMENT;

  LONELINESS; INDICATORS; DEPRESSION; ADHERENCE; SERVICES; BARRIERS'
language: English
month: NOV
number: '6'
number-of-cited-references: '45'
orcid-numbers: Dare, Julie/0000-0002-2226-4651
pages: 871-881
papis_id: e6173a9a88420ae76a60d64953be246b
ref: Dare2018peoplemake
researcherid-numbers: Dare, Julie/D-1711-2016
times-cited: '17'
title: '``The people make it fun, the activities we do just make sure we turn up on
  time.″ Factors influencing older adults'' participation in community-based group
  programmes in Perth, Western Australia'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000446431800010
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '26'
volume: '26'
web-of-science-categories: Public, Environmental \& Occupational Health; Social Work
year: '2018'