Bewegungsförderung im Quartier – ein partizipativer Ansatz zur Etablierung eines „Geh-sundheitspfades“

Municipal promotion of physical activity requires a combination of behavioural and relational measures—as well as the implementation of participatory approaches in their settings—to increase physical activity among older people. The neighbourhood is an appropriate setting. In this context, a walking health path (called Geh-sundheitspfad in German) was planned and implemented in a participatory way. The procedure is described from the perspective of the municipal partner.

The target group was selected according to the Good Practice of Social Situation-Related Health Promotion criteria . Using the setting approach, a neighbourhood was selected on the basis of its age structure and other criteria. The development of the route, the content of the panels and the accompanying material on the Geh-sundheitspfad were developed in a participatory manner with the target group and local stakeholders.

The Geh-sundheitspfad is about six kilometres long and has twelve information panels about the health benefits effects of walking as well as environmental and historical aspects of the district. The target group was reached through a multiplier in the neighbourhood and had a say in the design. The Geh-sundheitspfad was designed according to the recommendations of the Bewegte Kommune.

Participatory planning, the involvement of local stakeholders and the combination of ratio- and behaviour-oriented measures can promote the acceptance and physical activity of older people. Sustainability, in the sense of continued use of the Geh-sundheitspfad, is achieved both by the actors in the local network and by the target group itself.