The Project

The JOIN4JOY project aims to promote physical activity (PA) among older adults with fewer opportunities to participate by adapting programs to their specific needs. Through a comprehensive, enjoyment-based strategy, we seek to overcome barriers and ensure equitable access to exercise, ultimately improving their quality of life from a biopsychosocial and inclusive perspective.

Who is JOIN4JOY for?

• Intervention: Older adults (65+) living in the community with socioeconomic or social challenges (Join4Joy-Comm) and those residing in nursing homes (Join4Joy-NH).
• Education: Health and exercise professionals, as well as students training in these fields.

Strategy and Activities

The project was implemented in different phases to ensure its impact and sustainability:

• Co-creation: A collaborative process involving older adults, professionals, informal caregivers, researchers, and students to design a program tailored to their needs.
• Initial Training: All facilitators and student assistants were trained in the Join4Joy approach to foster more individualized, inclusive, and enjoyable interventions.
• Pilot Studies 1 & 2: The Join4Joy approach was tested in different European settings, integrating key learnings and adapting them to local contexts. The pilots aimed to assess feasibility and were evaluated using a mixed-methods approach, including both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Learn more about the Join4Joy methodological Project Protocol.
• Cascade Training: As a result of the co-creation process and scientific evidence, the project offers the Join4Joy Educational Training, a free online course. Any professional or student interested in active aging can request access. Course duration: 2 hours, divided into short 5-10 minute modules. Click the link for more information.
• Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoPs): Digital spaces where professionals, students, and participants can share knowledge and experiences.

The project’s impact will be assessed at the European level to ensure its replicability and scalability, promoting greater equity in access to physical activity for older adults.