Senior Fitness Test Kit - Updated Edition

Although physical fitness has traditionally been associated with the young through the middle-aged, it is most critical for those in their senior years. Older adults require adequate strength, flexibility, and endurance to accomplish even ordinary, everyday tasks.

Up until now, most physical fitness tests have been geared to younger audiences. The updated Senior Fitness Test Kit is an answer to the need for a simple, easy-to-use battery of test items that assess the functional fitness of older adults. The test is safe and enjoyable for older adults, it meets scientific standards for reliability and validity, and it has accompanying performance norms based on actual performance scores of over 7,000 men and women between the ages of 60 and 94.

The Senior Fitness Test Kit helps professionals not only motivate older adults, but also assess the major physiological components of functional capacity so that emerging weaknesses can be detected and treated before causing serious functional limitations.

The Senior Fitness Test Manual provides the theoretical base for the test. It also includes the developmental procedures and provides complete information on administering and scoring the test and providing feedback to test participants about their results. It also includes instructions on organizing and testing groups of older adults. The appendix has reproducible sample forms, charts, tables, and posters for instructors to use in their programs.

The Senior Fitness Test Software is a companion resource to the Senior Fitness Test Manual. It aids the user in tracking the test scores of older adults, comparing the scores to national norms, and printing useful reports on participants' functional fitness levels.

The software offers calculators and several options for reports that can be used in conjunction with the Senior Fitness Test.

The Senior Fitness Test DVD is a companion resource to the Senior Fitness Test Manual. It shows how to administer the test battery properly to both individuals and groups. It is particularly useful in training volunteers or peer mentors who work with the test administration.

This DVD illustrates how to conduct seven individual fitness test items involving common activities such as getting up from a chair, walking, lifting, bending, and stretching. It also explains what equipment is needed to conduct the test items, provides safety tips, and demonstrates how to score each test item.

The manual, software and DVD are all sold together as the Senior Fitness Test Kit. The items are also available separately.