‘We are all in this together’: a creative non-fiction story of older adults participating in power-assisted exercise

ABSTRACT

In this study we aimed to explore older adults’ experience of community-based power assisted (PA) exercise and its potential impact on social exclusion, isolation and loneliness (SEI&L). The lead author obtained ethnographic data over a 6-month period using three primary methods: participant observation (900 hours), a reflexive diary, and 10 semi-structured interviews. Participant observation provided a rich lens into a PA exercise centre describing the scene, characters, and dialogue that enabled the ethnographer to interpret stories of SEI&L. Participants expressing stories of SEI&L (6 service-users, age 66–90 years) and participants working at the centre (3 staff members, age 41–50 years; 1 volunteer, age 69 years) were invited for interviews with the purpose of expanding on data from the field. We used dialogical narrative analysis to construct story themes and meaningful structures from the data that enabled a nuanced understanding of the plots and characters woven into the ethnographic creative non-fiction. Shifting our perspective from story analysts to storytellers, we have constructed two emotionally vibrant composite narratives to show the mechanisms and meanings of SEI&L for older adult exercisers following bereavement in later life and when living with a debilitating chronic health condition. The therapy centre provided a safe and inclusive space for older adults to reconnect through accessible modes of exercise and an atmosphere fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness. This work offers rich insight into older adult’s experiences of community-based exercise and raises awareness of SEI&L to help instigate personal and social change across multiple audiences.

KEYWORDS:

• Social exclusion
• social isolation
• loneliness
• older adults
• power-assisted exercise
• creative analytical practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2022.2067219

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Samantha J. Meredith

S. J. Meredith was an exercise therapist working in community and rehabilitation facilities during the time of this study. She is currently a research fellow at the University of Southampton within the ageing and dementia research team, NIHR ARC Wessex. Her research interests focus on physical activity participation in later life and within rehabilitative settings with the aim to translate innovative research findings into interventions to improve health and well-being.

Chad S. G. Witcher

C. S. G. Witcher is a senior lecturer in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Portsmouth. His research interests are in theoretically-informed (e.g., social ecological) approaches to the promotion of health and wellness and the prevention and reduction of chronic disease and disability throughout the lifecourse – particularly in older adulthood. Chad investigates these areas primarily through interpretive (i.e., qualitative) research methodologies and methods.

Christopher R. D. Wagstaff

C. R. D. Wagstaff is a Reader in applied psychology in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Portsmouth. His program of research broadly focuses on integrating psychological and sociological approaches to advancing knowledge within organisational psychology in sport, including the impact of employee emotions, stress, well-being and organisational behaviour within high performance environments.