Project improves quality of life for senior citizens

That's how the macro-project, "Changes in Morphology and Functionality in Older Adults," was born, which includes its research group on physical activity and aging. "The objective is to analyze the changes in morphology and functionality in older adults in the municipality. So I decided to approach the topic from a methodological and pedagogical perspective. We conducted a series of surveys in which we asked them their reasons for exercising and how many times a week they did it. After that phase, through observation, we realized that the people leading the exercises lacked sufficient qualifications," explained Eduard Alonso Ceballos, the project's lead teacher.

Once they had all that qualitative and quantitative information, they developed a physical activity program that now impacts nine hundred people in eight communities within the municipality. “We found conditions such as sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass, obesity, and osteoarthritis. Therefore, we created an exercise program to prevent these and other ailments, with routines to reduce the risk of falls and improve posture and physical fitness. We also teach them healthy eating habits.”.

According to Eduard, the goal of all this is to make the elderly independent and reduce the physical and mental frailty that often appears at this stage of life.

Now comes a bigger challenge: the start of the second phase of the project. “We are going to create a Udecino Observatory on aging in Cundinamarca, which we want to extend to the municipalities where we have an impact, such as Chía, Fusagasugá, Ubaté, among others.

In this way, UCundinamarca conducts sociological research that impacts and improves the quality of life of communities.

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