Toward Healthy Aging for All: Understanding and Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Adults with Disabilities

Population aging and the increasing number of older adults with disabilities highlight the need to understand and support physical activity as an important health behavior for healthy and active aging. This study aimed to identify and prioritize strategies for promoting rehabilitative exercise and physical activity among older adults with disabilities in South Korea. A hybrid Delphi–Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used with 20 participants, comprising 10 older adults with disabilities and 10 primary caregivers. Three Delphi rounds were conducted to identify key factors, establish consensus, and determine priorities within each of five domains: leadership; programming; facilities and built environments; education and awareness; and administrative and financial support systems. Twenty-five key factors were retained. The highest-priority factors were certified profession and standardized qualification; programming tailored to disability and age; policies supporting mobility and accessibility rights; awareness and capacity building for active living among participants; and enhanced governmental and policy-level financial support. These findings highlight the need for coordinated improvements across professional practice, program delivery, accessible environments, education, and policy support to support physical activity participation and health promotion. The identified priorities provide a user-informed basis for developing approaches that promote active living and healthy aging among older adults with disabilities.