Foreign experience of organizing recreation and health activities with the elderly

Abstract

The pace of population aging in the world makes it necessary to direct more and more resources to support the older generation and indicates the need to improve measures to maintain physical health and improve the quality of life of the elderly, taking into account demographic trends. Introduction. In Ukraine, about 11 million senior citizens. Most of them, according to sociological research, are dissatisfied with their standard of living (material situation, living conditions, state of health, etc.), and in the future see only old age, loneliness, loss of loved ones, relatives, friends, isolation from the surrounding world. Life realities of the Ukrainian present intensify the acuteness of the problem. Therefore, improving the quality of life of the elderly becomes especially relevant. The purpose of the study. Analysis, systematization and generalization of data from literary sources on the content and organization of recreational and health activities of elderly people in foreign countries. Research materials and methods. The research was conducted at Hryhoriy Skovoroda University in Pereyaslav. The following methods were used during the research: theoretical analysis and generalization of data from scientific and methodological literature, documentary materials; method of comparison; method of system analysis. Research results. In developed foreign countries, the presence of elderly people is considered a factor in the development of society, which significantly affects the outlook of elderly people. They, in the vast majority, realize that they are still able to bring material and spiritual benefit to society, which has overcome stereotypical ideas about an elderly person and is ready to protect him, rather than consider him a «social ballast».

The organization of recreational and leisure activities of pensioners in foreign countries was influenced by the following factors: noticeable growth of this age group of the population in society; society's value attitude towards the elderly; changes in the labor market; formed culture and leisure traditions in this category of the population; significant enrichment of the types of leisure activities of a person of the «golden» age; increase in free time; changes in consumption of leisure services; increasing the opportunities of an elderly person to master new fields of knowledge and professional skills; social activity of the elderly. State policy in the field of organizing recreational activities of elderly people in foreign countries is based on the relevant legislative framework of each individual state, taking into account the recommendations of world friendship. Conclusions. So, recreation and health work with the elderly in foreign countries is being built: taking into account the systematic study of the interests and needs of the elderly; organization of services according to their requests; direct work with initiative groups and representatives of the community served by the recreation and leisure institution; oordination and cooperation of the physical culture and health establishment with other subjects of social life.