The Assessment of the Leisure Benefits for the Elder Recreational Activities From Reminiscence Approach to Recreational Programming

Recreational activities are beneficial for the elderly. However, little is known regarding specifically which types of recreational activity benefit older adults and in what ways. The purpose of this study was to assess the particular benefits of different types of recreational activities. The intervention experiments in this study focused on three recreational activities, based on the different physical movements required: handicraft activities (finger movement), horticultural activities (upper limb movement), and Petanque (whole body activity), with each session lasting five weeks. Erickson’s life development theory was adapted to conduct the three recreational activities and to aid the elderly in reminiscing about their lives throughout the activities. Before and after the program intervention, the subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire that analysed the leisure benefits of these recreational activities. The results are: (1) Significant improvements in seniors’ leisure benefit perception validate the effectiveness of adopting the reminiscence approach to recreational programming for seniors. (2) Different program characteristics affect seniors’ perceived leisure benefits in various ways. (3) Programs involving more motor skills are associated with physiological leisure benefits. (4) Psychological leisure benefits are linked to the “newness” of programs. (5) Competition and skill-focused activity might hinder social interactions. The study confirms that using the innovative reminiscence approach in a program could successfully expand older adults’ leisure repertoire and provide benefits to their physical, psychological and social health.