The Effects of Health Promotion Program on Healthy Aging, Wellbeing and Health Promoting Behaviour among Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Background: One of the most essential needs of all people is providing, enhancing the health level, and adopting a lifestyle that promotes health. It is the most significant and practical way to keep older persons' wellbeing and promote healthy aging. Aim: To investigate the effects of health promotion program on healthy aging, wellbeing and health promoting behaviour among community dwelling older adults. Methods: Four randomly selected health centers out of a total of 38 were used for the study, which was carried out in the Mansoura District within the Dakahlia governorate. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a purposive sample of 94 older adults from 110 older persons enrolled in the above-mentioned setting was selected, 75 older adults were included in the final analysis. Tools: Four tools were used; Structured Interview Questionnaire, Healthy Aging Instrument (HAI), Modified Wellbeing Assessment Tool, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II Questionnaire (HPLP-II). Results: All healthy aging factors, wellbeing domains, and health promoting behaviour dimensions of the study group showed significant improvement after the program implementation (p <0.0001). This improvement appears in young old married female, with university education, who still working, had enough income , living with family, and with good health status. Also, highly statistically significant positive correlations (p<0.001) were found between wellbeing, healthy aging, and health promoting behaviour in the study group. Conclusion: Health promotion program has a positive effect on older adults' healthy aging, wellbeing, and health promoting behaviour. Recommendations: To promote older adults' health and decrease the prevalence of chronic illnesses and multiple complications due to lack of healthy lifestyle, it is recommended to implement health promotion lifestyle programs.