Български
NEWS
FINAL CONFERENCE UNDER THE HEPA PROJECT WAS HELD IN CROATIA
15.10.2022
On 15.10.2022 the final conference of the HEPA (Health Enhancing Physical Activity) – Health and Fitness Assessment for Seniors project was held in Zagreb, Croatia. The research carried out within the framework of the project in the individual partner countries was presented, as well as an analysis of the impact of the HEPA project on the elderly people who took part in the pilot sessions. The achieved results, the activities carried out and the main recommendations for the future implementation of the HEPA project for the elderly were discussed. Kalinka Gudarovska – board member of BSDA and Emilia Pergelova – international projects coordinator in BSDA took part in the meeting on behalf of the Bulgarian sports development association.
The HEPA (Health Enhancing Physical Activity) initiative aims to encourage participation in recreational physical activity for seniors (persons age 65+) by developing new recreational sport programmes suited for 3 types of most common health conditions – back pain, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis, thus the project will try to support the implementation of the EU Physical Activity Guidelines. The duration of the project is 24 months and involves 6 partner organizations from five European countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, Slovenia and Serbia.
The health benefits of physical activity (PA) for older adults have been well established in the scientific literature. Numerous outcomes have been studied to document associations with PA, including reduced prevalence of common chronic conditions (eg, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension), improved mental health (eg, depression, stress), quality of life, increased physical function, decreased cognitive decline (eg, dementia, Alzheimer's disease) and reduced mortality rates. Physical activity is at the core of health and well-being. The social benefits of physical activity participation are often particularly important to older people. However, health promotion messages often target children and young people, with less focus on the importance of physical activity for people aged 65 years and over. The project is going to pay special attention to the people accommodated in "Homes for the elderly", associations of the elderly, etc. Surveys show that in Europe 25% of people over the age of 60 are physically inactive, which shows that Europe needs innovative exercises for this target group to take into account their physical condition, the limitations of their health and the physical capabilities they possess. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults engage in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. On EU level, the report, unveiled by Commissioner Navracsics (European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the European Commission) in Sofia during the annual EU Sport Forum shows that levels of participation have not changed substantially since the previous Eurobarometer survey.
HEPA project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European union.
The health benefits of physical activity (PA) for older adults have been well established in the scientific literature. Numerous outcomes have been studied to document associations with PA, including reduced prevalence of common chronic conditions (eg, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension), improved mental health (eg, depression, stress), quality of life, increased physical function, decreased cognitive decline (eg, dementia, Alzheimer's disease) and reduced mortality rates. Physical activity is at the core of health and well-being. The social benefits of physical activity participation are often particularly important to older people. However, health promotion messages often target children and young people, with less focus on the importance of physical activity for people aged 65 years and over. The project is going to pay special attention to the people accommodated in "Homes for the elderly", associations of the elderly, etc. Surveys show that in Europe 25% of people over the age of 60 are physically inactive, which shows that Europe needs innovative exercises for this target group to take into account their physical condition, the limitations of their health and the physical capabilities they possess. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults engage in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week. On EU level, the report, unveiled by Commissioner Navracsics (European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the European Commission) in Sofia during the annual EU Sport Forum shows that levels of participation have not changed substantially since the previous Eurobarometer survey.
HEPA project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European union.
