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.