The Go4Life campaign, an exercise and physical activity programme led by the National Institute on Aging (part of the National Institutes of Health in the United States), offers a suite of free resources designed to help individuals over the age of 50 become and stay physically active. While the campaign is a US-based federal initiative, its core materials—such as exercise guides, tip sheets, videos, and motivational tools—are freely available online and can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. This article details the free materials available through the Go4Life campaign, how to access them, and the types of activities promoted, based solely on information provided in the source documents.
The campaign’s central goal is to make physical activity a cornerstone of healthy ageing, emphasising that being physically active is vital for maintaining health and independence as we age. The materials are designed to be practical, focusing on activities that support daily functions important to older adults, such as the ability to drive, carry groceries, do yardwork, or walk a dog. The campaign’s theme, #Fit4Function, underscores this practical approach. The initiative officially launched on October 19, 2011.
Go4Life provides a variety of free materials to help seniors become and stay physically active. These include sample exercises, an exercise guide book available in both English and Spanish, easy-to-print tip sheets with information about the health benefits of physical activity, and tools for setting goals and tracking progress. The campaign’s website offers free exercise videos, free workout routines, and a selection of helpful tip sheets. Specific tip sheet topics mentioned in the source materials include: “Helping Older Family Members Become More Active,” “Walking for Your Health,” “Finding Activities You Enjoy,” “Be Physically Active without Spending a Dime,” “Exercising with Osteoarthritis,” “Exercise and Osteoporosis,” “Making Smart Food Choices,” and a “Monthly Progress Test.” An audio book MP3 of senior exercises is also available for free.
In addition to these individual resources, Go4Life has organised a “Go4Life Month” each September. The campaign encourages participation by providing an online toolkit of materials to use in planning and conducting exercise activities. Organisations or individuals can request free print materials for their Go4Life Month event. The campaign also offers to highlight participating organisations and their activities on the Go4Life website and in outreach materials.
Individuals can sign up to receive free e-mail exercise tips and weekly motivation from Go4Life virtual coaches. They can also get activity ideas from the website. For organisations, libraries, or community groups, there is an opportunity to become a Go4Life partner. Partners receive updates on the latest campaign activities and can have a voice in shaping campaign materials to better meet their community’s needs. The campaign works with public and private organisations, including senior living communities, to empower older adults to become more physically active.
It is important to note that the provided source material pertains to a US government health campaign and does not mention any product samples, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes in the beauty, baby care, pet food, health, food, or household goods categories. The resources are informational and activity-based, not product-based. The information is available through the official Go4Life website, which is a reliable source for the campaign’s materials and policies.