Discussion: View Thread

Role of Leisure and Physical Activity for Millennials, Generation X (Seniors/Older Adult in Training) and Current Cohort of Seniors

Global society is changing. Approximately 20 million individuals are migrating from developing countries to developed countries per year (Bloom & Canning, 2006; MacNeill & Gould, 2012). This shift will have an impact on how globally we define the terms, aging, leisure engagement, and leisure physical activity (Gibson, 2006; Iwasaki, Nishino, Onda, & Bowling, 2007; McGuire, 2000). By the year 2050, 20% of the global society will be over the age of 65 (Bloom & Canning, 2006; MacNeill & Gould, 2012). These are the Millennials and Generation X. Individuals acquire conditions that may change their abilities across the life course (Darcy & Singleton, 2015; Genoe & Singleton, 2009). As an example, Statistics Canada (2012) reported the person's abilities across various age categories – 0-14 (3.7%), 15-24 (4.7%), 25-44 (8.00%), 45-64 (18.3%), 65-74 (33%), and 75+ (56.3%). What are the abilities of people in your country across the life course? Studies have found that engagement in leisure and physical activities enhance the social, physical and cognitive well-being of participants (Darcy & Singleton, 2015; Dionigi & Horton, 2012; Grant & Kluge, 2012; Kim, Compton, & McCormick, 2013; & Singleton, 2006; Singleton, 1995; Singleton, 1991). A variety of theories have emerged to explain aging from activity, disengagement, selective optimization and compensation, gerotranscendence, socioemotional selectivity theory to understand the aging process (Atcheley, 1968; Baltes & Baltes, 1992; Carstensen, Fung, & Charles, 2003; Cumming & Henry, 1960; Havighurst, 1961; Kleiber & Genoe, 2012;Tornstarm, 2005). Shifting discourse has emerged related to aging, such as the Silver Economy in the European Union, which views aging as a potential economic generator. Societies were not prepared for the Boomer Generation. How can societies and allied health professionals assist the next age wave of Millennials and Generation X from insights from the current cohort of older adults?

Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation (TGR) journal is the leading journal in enhancing knowledge of how allied health care professions enhance the wellbeing of the current cohort of older adults. TGR has provided insights into Alzheimer's, Communication, Caregiving, Exercise and Rehabilitation as examples. The question arises: in 2050, 20 % of the global society will be over 65. These individuals were born in 1985 or earlier. The PEW (2014) report on Millennials and Aging has provided insights for the Millennials as they age (1980-2000). Generation X are in their 40's and early 50's in 2015; in 2050 they will be in their 70's to 90's. A person born in 1980 will be 70 in 2050. There is also shift in the discourse on aging, from aging as a product (65 plus) to aging as a process. This shift in the discourse on Aging has framed the following questions. What are the roles of allied health professions in prevention of persons acquiring a condition that may change a person's life as they age (Millennials, Generation X)? What is the role of leisure and/or physical activity as prevention for Millennials and Generation X?  What is the role of leisure and or physical activity for the current cohort of individuals over the age of 65? How are images shaped by the current cohort of older adults and service delivery? What will the needs of an aging population be in 2050 (Millennials and Generation X)? How could Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1991; Collins, 1993) assist Allied Health professionals to prepare for the age wave in 2050 in accessing and using leisure opportunities or engaging in physical activities? (Millennials and Generation X)? How could Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1991; Collins, 1993) assist the current age wave in accessing and using leisure opportunities or engaging in physical activities? How could theories such as Environmental Press (Lawton & Nehamow, 1973; Lawton, 1977, 1982) and Ecological Model (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, 1989) framed with Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1991; Collins, 1993) assist allied health professionals in empowering Millennials, Generation X and the current cohort of older adults to access leisure opportunities and physical activity?

What are the potential roles of allied health professions (Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology, Speech, Audiology, Pharmacy, Health Promotion, Health Policy, Therapeutic Recreation, Physiotherapy etc.) in empowering Millennials and Generation X generation (Seniors/Older Adults in Training, Singleton, 2015) as they age to reduce their risk of acquiring a condition that will change their abilities as they age? What are the current roles of allied health professions (Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology, Speech, Audiology, Pharmacy, Health Promotion, Health Policy, Therapeutic Recreation, Physiotherapy etc.) in empowering access to the current cohort of seniors' leisure opportunities or physical activities that enhance their wellbeing?

The purpose of this special edition of Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation is to reframe the discourse regarding aging within the Millennial Generation and Generation X as they age. How can the insights to the role of leisure and physical activities for the current cohort of individuals over 65 assist in preparing for the age wave (Millennial Generation and Generation X) in 2050 globally? Authors are encouraged to submit articles that: a) are theoretical that frame the discourse on leisure and engagement  for Seniors/Older Adults in Training (Millennials, Generation X) and  the current cohort of older adults over 65;  b) practice-driven research related to Seniors/Older Adults in Training (Millennials and Generation X) and  to current cohort of older adults over 65 related to leisure engagement or physical activity; and c) outline how your profession may need to change its framework for leisure engagement or physical activity for current cohort and future Seniors/Older Adults in Training (Millennials, Generation X).

Here is the web site TGR

http://www.editorialmanager.com/tgr/default.aspx

For now, I would suggest that you review the instructions for authors.

Please forward questions and inquiries to Dr. Jerome F. Singleton, PhD, CTRS jerome@dal.ca if you have any questions related to a paper you wish to submit.

Papers are due:    August 31, 2016

Jerome F. Singleton, PhD, CTRS, Professor

Recreation and Leisure Studies 

Fellow of the World Demographic Association, Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Science

School of Health and Human Performance, Stairs House 6230 South Street, PO Box 15000

Halifax NS, B3H 4R2, Canada     

jerome@dal.ca      902-494-1166