‘To socialise is to exercise or to exercise is to socialise?’: participation in an older women’s exercise class and significance of a ‘third place’ for health and well-being

Current United Kingdom (UK) and Scottish Government concerns highlight an impact on the public funding of caring for the elderly in our communities which relates directly to the predicted increase in the ageing population. Research suggests that for older women, inactivity and loneliness are two main contributors to health decline. This paper will consider how a ‘third place’ (Oldenburg, 1999) could support older women’s health and well-being within a community. The study saw and heard the feelings of a group of older women’s health and well-being experiences whilst participating in a Local Authority organised Over 50’s exercise class. Data was collected using photovoice, a contemporary ethnographic visual method and a focus group. Volunteers took photographs of the women before, during and after their class, which were verbally analysed, collated, themed and discussed in their third place (a place to meet which is not home or work), the local coffee shop. Two themes which emerged were the group’s feelings about exercising and socialising, with their third place being a crucial element to the weekly class. In conclusion, this study suggests that partnerships between older women, Local Authorities, the National Health Service (NHS) and older people’s organisations, should focus on co-creating such third places, where exercising and socialising are combined as a contributor to health and well-being whilst reducing the costs to the public purse.