Résumé :
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Healthy ageing consists of creating systems where the opportunity to live a healthy life, regardless of the absence of disease, is possible. Healthy ageing was created in effect by an aging population and globally, healthcare systems are preparing for the increased incidence of chronic diseases and other vulnerabilities that may arrive due to the shift in population demographics. Currently, in France, these efforts are being adapted to their local socio-economic context where the goal is to keep their population autonomous through fall prevention programs. But gaps in program efficacy and low participation rates have been found. As a result, in order to measure the gap found in French national programs, two focus groups were done among frail and autonomous older adults living in Paris, France to understand their perceptions of healthy ageing. A total of 14 participants were recruited through SielBleu, an NGO which offers Adapted Physical Activity (APA) group courses. Results of the study showed participants perceived healthy ageing through a definition of allowing a person to remain autonomous, independent and having choice. The perception of healthy ageing among the participants was well aligned to the European perspective of aging in which healthy ageing is a result of individual efforts, not a collective. The participants of the focus group perceived healthy ageing as the maintenance of capacity, influenced by their individual life paths and with accessibility allowing them to keep their choice and independence and this definition was shown to interact with different themes which contribute to healthy ageing including the maintenance of mental, social and physical capacity, individuality and accessibility.
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