Strong and Stable Through Movement
The project team studies how residents and neighbours of the Menno Simonszhuis in Amsterdam Buitenveldert can be encouraged to be more physically active in a sustainable way, within their own neighbourhood. The research focuses on physical activity, the design of public space, interprofessional collaboration, and healthy ageing.
A key part of the project is the movement bench. This is a multifunctional bench placed in public space. In addition, the team develops and evaluates a fall prevention programme for residents and local neighbours. These initiatives help reduce pressure on healthcare services and promote a healthier society.
Physical inactivity and ageing
Physical inactivity costs the Netherlands around €2.7 billion each year in healthcare spending, according to RIVM. Amsterdam’s population is ageing in line with national trends. The city currently has over 500,000 households. Of these, 125,000 are home to people aged 65+. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to 190,000. The number of people aged 85+ is also expected to double (source: Municipality of Amsterdam).
Close collaboration with practice partners and students highlights the value of a shared approach. This collaboration supports innovative solutions for health and vitality challenges among older people.
Jora Broerse
Researcher
Aim
Professionals from different sectors work together to support the shift from curative to preventive care. This requires interdisciplinary collaboration between health and social care. The aim of this research project is to strengthen this collaboration and stimulate entrepreneurship, together with students.
The project team also examines how effective the movement bench is in encouraging physical activity among older people. The research looks at the alignment between orgware, hardware, and software. Good alignment supports long-term use of the intervention.
- Orgware refers to the organisations involved and how they work together.
- Hardware refers to the product or intervention itself and its maintenance.
- Software focuses on the activities offered.
Method
Researchers conduct structured interviews and collect survey data among residents of the Menno Simonszhuis, local neighbours, and users of the movement bench.
Social impact
The social outcome of the project has 2 main elements: higher participation in physical activity, especially among the primary target group, and improved interprofessional collaboration.
The social impact can be further expanded by:
- Measuring effectiveness on a larger scale in different neighbourhoods.
- Measuring effects on maintaining functional abilities of people aged 65+.
- Better supporting local coordinators in aligning orgware, software, and hardware.
Connection with education
AUAS students play an active role in data collection. 4 students from the Physiotherapy programme carry out their graduation research within this project. They contribute to the development of a measurement protocol for fall prevention. Students from the Sport Studies programme, specialising in Community Sports Coaching, also support the delivery of training sessions.
Expected Results/products
- Sustainable activation of the movement bench and its impact on the Menno Simonszhuis neighbourhood, with aligned software, orgware, and hardware.
- Development of a protocol to measure the effectiveness of a fall prevention programme for people aged 65+.
- Implementation and evaluation of a fall prevention programme by professionals.
External partners
- Sportservice Amsterdam
- Menno Simonszhuis
- GGZ Amsterdam
- Physiotherapy Practice Buitenveldert
- Ipitup
Involved research group
This project is part of the Sport Management & Sport Business research group.