Table 2.
Study participants’ reasons for participating (n=49) and not participating (n=56), n=105.a
| Category and reason | Participants, n (%) | ||
| Reasons for participating (n=49), 82 total responses | |||
|
|
Motivation | ||
|
|
|
Interest in content/relieving boredom | 30 (61) |
|
|
|
Providing exercise | 15 (31) |
|
|
|
Maintaining a daily routine | 11 (22) |
|
|
|
Social interest/relief of loneliness | 8 (16) |
|
|
|
Activities appropriate for older persons | 2 (4) |
|
|
Access | ||
|
|
|
Activities accessible from home | 14 (29) |
|
|
|
Convenient hours | 2 (4) |
| Reasons for not participating (n=56), 102 total responses | |||
|
|
Access | ||
|
|
|
Never heard of Healthy Aging | 24 (42) |
|
|
|
Technical issuesb | 13 (23) |
|
|
|
Inconvenient time or duration of the activitiesc | 12 (21) |
|
|
|
Not willing to pay | 3 (5) |
|
|
Motivation | ||
|
|
|
Lack of interest in the content of the activities | 18 (32) |
|
|
|
Participation in other activities/organizations | 9 (16) |
|
|
|
The activities are designed for older persons (“I’m too young for these”) | 5 (9) |
|
|
Abilities | ||
|
|
|
Problems due to cognitive impairmentd | 7 (13) |
|
|
|
Hearing/vision problemsd | 4 (7) |
|
|
Concerns | ||
|
|
|
Reluctance to take part in group activities | 3 (5) |
|
|
|
Reluctance to participate in activities with a camera | 1 (2) |
|
|
|
The organization seems too commercial | 1 (2) |
aParticipants could provide multiple answers.
bOut of 13 participants, 8 (62%) did not know how to operate a computer/phone, 3 (23%) indicated they did not relate to technology and Zoom, and 2 (15%) had no computer.
cOut of 12 participants, 8 (67%) reported participating in other activities, 1 (8%) reported working, and 1 (8%) reported having no time due to caregiving for a spouse with dementia.
dTwo persons reported cognitive reasons and hearing/vision problems.