Indoor pursuits: the countries offering the best indoor activity options for the elder population
Indoor sports can often be more accessible to the elder population, as activities can be enjoyed without the interference of wind noise that impacts hearing quality, and they are often less active and physically demanding than outdoor activities.
Many countries offer an extensive choice of sporting activities from yoga and pilates to swimming, dancing and gym classes, but which country takes the crown for the best indoor activities?
The United Kingdom secures the title as the best country for its variety of indoor activities for older members of the public, with a total score of 58.8/60. Active senior citizens in the UK can enjoy a range of indoor exercises from swimming solo to group activities like gym classes, dance classes, yoga and pilates.
Australia emerges in second place for its indoor activity offerings for retirees with a score of 53.2/60. With a wide range of dance classes on offer, senior residents in Australia can enjoy everything from Zumba and salsa to ballroom dancing. Yoga, pilates, gym classes and swimming are also popular and readily available for mature members of the public.
Taking the final spot in the top three is the United States with a score of 48.3/60, for its indoor activities for mature active members. Health and fitness clubs, yoga, pilates and swimming are amongst the most popular activities on offer for elderly residents in America, with a score of 10/10.
Below, Katie Ogden, an HCPC registered hearing aid dispenser and the Training Manager of ReSound, North West Europe, offers up some expert insight on why wearing hearing aids is important for all types of sporting activities:
“Wearing hearing aids for sport and leisure activities will not only improve someone’s safety and performance but also their communication with those around them. Whatever activity or sport you enjoy the most, either as an active participant or a spectator, hearing aids allow you to do what you enjoy and just be you again. With modern hearing aids, you just put them in, let them do their job and you can get on with your life.”
Walking/running
Wearing hearing aids on a walk or run allows the wearer to feel safer as they can hear their surroundings more clearly. It also allows the hearing aid user the option of being able to easily access their media and listen to a podcast or music.
Cycling
Cycling with hearing aids will ensure the person wearing them can better hear surrounding noise like approaching traffic or hear any directions or signals given from others if cycling in a group.
Golf
When playing golf, wearing a hearing aid that is designed for tough weather conditions and reduces wind noise, will massively improve individuals hearing and make communication with others on the course much easier.
Team/competitor sports
Many activities like walking football, cricket or tennis require the participant to be able to easily communicate with either their competitors or teammates. That’s why wearing a hearing aid is important, as it allows them to better locate where noise is coming from and also hear the sound more clearly, making communicating easier.”
Methodology and data sources:
The Senior Sports Report by the hearing aid specialists at ReSound discovers which sporting activities and hobbies undertaken by senior citizens (60+) are the most popular around the world and determines which countries are the most inclusive to retirees.
Taking a seed list of the top 30 developed countries around the world, the report discovers how accommodating each country is for senior sports and retirees, by analysing the following metrics:
- Number of Green Spaces and parks
- Number of gym classes for senior citizens
- Number of senior swim sessions available
- Number of Health & Fitness clubs and gyms
- Number of senior citizen dance classes and clubs
- Golf courses and clubs
- Lawn bowls pitches and clubs
- Number of allotments
- Yoga and Pilates Studios
- Number of swimming pools
- Number of cycle routes
