Understanding the multidimensional nature of health promotion for older adults through the application of a conceptual framework

Abstract

Over the next three decades, the proportion of Americans over age 65 will grow to exceed 25 percent of the population. Although research has shown that health promotion and disease prevention interventions for older adults can lead to positive health outcomes, our understanding of the effects of health promotion on the health and well-being of older people could be improved through the development and use of a conceptual framework. This article presents a conceptual model for understanding the determinants and consequences of engaging in health promotion activities for older adults, describes how to use the model to estimate the impact of health promotion programs on a variety of individual- and community-level outcomes, and then applies the model to two different health promotion programs for older persons: REACH II and the Senior Wellness Program.