For seniors, sport is first about enjoyment and connection
A study published on 22 June 2026 in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living sheds valuable light on what truly motivates older adults to take part in sport — and the findings go well beyond physical fitness.
A large survey of nearly 5,000 seniors
The researchers surveyed nearly 5,000 participants across more than 50 different sports. From their answers, they propose the HeRO model (Health Resources in Organised sport), which identifies ten "health resources" that make sport participation meaningful for older adults.
What matters most
The four most frequently cited resources are not the obvious ones:
- Positive energy and enjoyment (84%)
- Social relations with others (81%)
- Maintaining exercise as a routine (79%)
- Satisfaction with physical fitness (76%)
In other words, enjoyment and social connection matter as much as — if not more than — the physical benefits. Sport becomes an appointment, a sense of belonging, a reason to go out and meet others.
What this means for home care
At SUR.lu, these findings echo what we see every day: keeping up adapted physical activity, even gentle movement, supports morale and social connection as much as bodily health. Encouraging a regular walk, a gentle gymnastics class or a group activity means supporting both the independence and the overall well-being of the people we care for.
Moving, at any age, remains one of the finest engines of a full life — especially when it is a shared pleasure.
Reference
Geidne, S., Ericson, H., & Quennerstedt, M. What older adults find meaningful in organised sport participation: proposing the HeRO model. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (2026). DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1760024