[Health education and exercise stimulation for older people: development and evaluation of the program "Healthy and Vital"]

Abstract

In order to promote health in people of 65 years and older, TNO Prevention and Health developed, evaluated, and implemented "Healthy & Vital" (also known as "Ageing Well and Healthily"). Healthy & Vital consists of six sessions of health education and low-intensity exercises. This paper reports on the theoretical basis of the intervention, the methods and results of a Randomised Controlled Trial (n = 50), and a Community Intervention Trial (in 8 municipalities, n = 448). A brief report is given of the implementation study. Healthy & Vital had a number of positive physiological effects, such as a decrease in blood pressure (effect size -0.55), the Body Mass Index (effect 0.62), and the level of blood glucose (1.00), especially in women and in elderly people who are less active physically. Participants' understanding of health and illness increased significantly (effect 0.78). Due to ceiling effects only a few effects on subjective general health were found, and they disappeared after 6 months. A positive effect on feelings of loneliness remained even after 6 months (p < 0.1). The most important effect of Healthy & Vital was the increase in physical activity, especially in the least active elderly (p < 0.001). Twenty-five per cent of the participants continued activities with More Exercise for Seniors, 28% were still considering this, and 19% continued at home with the exercises they had learnt. Currently, Healthy & Vital is being implemented nationally by the Local Policy for the Elderly Knowledge Centre (www.lokoud.nl).