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Institutional ageism remains a significant barrier for older adults seeking to adopt or maintain physical activity. This study explored how organizations promoting active living on a large scale, represent and communicate it to the aging population. Through semi-structured interviews with 11 Quebec non-governmental organizations, findings from an inductive thematic analysis revealed conflicting perceptions about age, aging and active living. Participants lacked sufficient knowledge and resources to adress the needs of this heterogenous population. While they acknowledge the diverse realities and requirements within the aging population, their discourse predominantly centered on fragility and declining capacities. Additionnally, these organizations offered a limited range of activities and promoted an idealized image to conteract sedentary behavior. The findings highlight persistent institutional ageism in physical activity promotion and underscore the necessity for organizations to reflect on their capacity and the services they offer to better support a physically active lifestyle for older adults.
Najm et al. (Wed,) studied this question.