Efficacy of Government-Sponsored Community Health Programs for Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Published Evaluation Studies

Abstract

Objective: Population aging is an ongoing challenge for global health policy and is expected to have an increasing impact on developing economies in years to come. A variety of community health programs have been developed to deliver health services to older adults, and evaluating these programs is crucial to improving service delivery and avoiding barriers to implementation. This systematic review examines published evaluation research relating to public and community health programs aimed at older adults throughout the world.Methods: A literature search using standardized criteria yielded 58 published articles evaluating 46 specific programs in 14 countries.Results: Service models involving sponsorship of comprehensive facilities providing centralized access to multiple types of health services were generally evaluated the most positively, with care coordination programs appearing to have generally more modest success, and educational programs having limited effectiveness. Lack of sufficient funding was a commonly-cited barrier to successful program implementations.Conclusion: It is important to include program evaluation as a component of future community and public health interventions aimed at aging populations to better understand how to improve these programs.

Graying with dignity: Negotiating public service delivery amidst gaps in the welfare of rural Trenggalek’s aging population

“…In addition to expanding healthcare infrastructure, the government has initiated a series of programs aimed at enhancing the overall health and well-being of the elderly population, an approach which resonates with the global commitment to enhancing elderly care through multifaceted programs (Fulmer et al 2021, Chandrashekhar & Thakur 2022. One notable program in this context involves the regular implementation of large-scale health check-ups, which have become a cornerstone of these initiatives, ensuring that seniors receive timely medical assessments and necessary interventions to manage and alleviate potential health issues (Walker 2016).…”