Online Exercise Program for Elderly During Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic

It was conducted to determine the benefits of exercise for the elderly who were restricted from curfew due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic and the technological competence of older individuals in accessing exercise. This study was conducted with the students in 60+ Tazelenme University, between March and May 2020. The sample of the study is 80 people. The elderly participated in the online exercise for eight weeks, during the three months when there was a curfew for the elderly. The Information Form, which was prepared by the researchers by reviewing the literature, was used to collect the data, evaluating the benefits of online exercise and the ability of the elderly to access online exercise. The data were collected online via "Google Forms". 66.0% of the individuals participating in the present study were between the ages of 60-69. It has been observed that the online exercise study affects the physical and psychological health of the participants. 96.7% of the seniors believed that online exercise during the quarantine improved their health. 95.6% of the elderly noted that exercise improves the quality of life, and 98,9% reported that it helps daily life activities. Also, 94.6% of the participants think that they have sufficient technological equipment. Although the elderly experienced some difficulties following the during exercises online, the majority were able to follow and apply the program. It is observed that the online exercise program has a positive effect on the physical and mental well-being of the elderly. The necessity of online exercise programs that can help elderly people stay active is noteworthy during the pandemic.