Participants’ perspectives on the enviroFIT60+ physical activity and environmental health program for older adults

Introduction: Population aging is associated with a decline in mobility, balance, and functional independence. Regular physical activity and targeted exercise interventions are key determinants of healthy aging. However, less attention has been paid to enhancing physical fitness literacy and understanding the environmental factors that influence health and physical activity in older adults. The EnviroFIT60+ program was developed to close this gap by integrating practical exercises with educational components that address physical activity, environmental health, and broader health-related topics relevant to older adults. This study aimed to explore participants’ perceptions and experiences of the comprehensive program. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2025 to identify the needs related to physical activity among older adults in Ostrava. Participants were recruited through a social media campaign, community outreach, and snowball sampling to attend the EnviroFIT60+ program in January 2026. Post- program evaluation was conducted using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results: A total of 41 older adults aged 62–85 years participated in the EnviroFIT60+ program in Ostrava (N = 41; 90.2 % women). The needs assessment identified opportunities to enhance older adults’ physical activity, with 14.6 % reporting less than 60 minutes of physical activity per week. The most commonly reported barriers were health issues and pain (24.4 %), lack of time (19.5 %), and low motivation (7.3 %). Participants indicated that group-based activities and community support (56.0 %), regular feedback and monitoring (24.4 %), and individually tailored programs (12.2 %) would encourage their engagement in physical activity. In the post- program evaluation, Cognitive Health achieved the highest interest rating among the theoretical modules (5.00 ± 0.00), followed by Environmental Health (4.93 ± 0.26), and Assessment of Physical Functions (4.88 ± 0.39). The practical component, which included a combination of dual-task training, exercise snacks, balance, and strength exercises using home-based exercise equipment, received maximum ratings across all evaluated domains (5.00 ± 0.00). Participants reported that the program inspired them to be more physically active and explore new forms of exercise (all rated 5.00 ± 0.00). The organizational and logistical aspects of the program were positively evaluated, and the participants perceived the program as highly beneficial (5.00 ± 0.00), indicating strong alignment with their needs and expectations. Conclusions: The strong interest in cognitive and environmental health observed in this study highlights the importance of addressing multiple determinants of mobility, alongside practical exercise. Furthermore, the high feasibility and acceptability of the program indicate its potential for broader community-based implementation. Such initiatives may help older adults better understand the factors influencing mobility and functional independence while fostering long-term engagement in a physically active lifestyle. Acknowledgements: This study was supported by the ERASMUS+ program through the project “Enhancing the quality of health- related physical activity through educational feedback in older adults” 2024-2-SK01-KA210-ADU-000279831. The project was developed and implemented through a collaborative partnership between Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia), Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice (Slovakia), and Ostrava University (Czech Republic). The project is co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the national agency. Neither the European Union nor the national agency (SAAIC) can be held responsible for them.