Understanding and informing the benefits of sport and physical activity-based programmes for older women in the UK and Japan.

This project aims to undertake research in partnership with sports and fitness organisations which are offering programmes to enhance the physical and mental health of older women. The rationale for this research is twofold: (1) most research on sport and physical activity focuses on young people, and older women are particularly neglected in analysis of physical activity in later life despite having longer life expectancy than males and the evidence of the physical, mental and social benefits of such activity; (2) there is a growing body of evidence of the benefits of sporting reminiscence projects for older men living with dementia, but very little attention has been given to the benefits of these projects for older women. The research will focus on two main areas of provision: (1) fitness clubs which offer bespoke physical activity sessions for older women; (2) sports organisations which plan to offer sporting reminiscence projects for older people living with dementia and their carers.