Background The ageing population is increasing worldwide, and this trend is bringing challenges both for the older person and for society. In order to meet the challenges a comprehensive approach is needed involving both health promotion and risk prevention. The preventive home visit is a public health intervention used around the world with the purpose of promoting health and preventing risk among older persons. However, most preventive home visits are focused on questions asking about risks. In order to strengthen the health promotion perspective during the preventive home visits, factors associated with good health need to be identified. The aim of this study was therefore to determine which factors were associated with good self-rated health among older persons who received preventive home visit. Methods This was a register study with a cross-sectional design, including older persons (≥75 years old), living in their own homes, and that had received preventive home visit. Data were collected during a period of 9 months, in two municipalities in the south of Sweden. A questionnaire covered mental, physical and lifestyle factors were used at home visit. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the data. Results In total, 619 older persons were included in the study; 55.4% were women, and the mean age was 80.6 years (standard deviation 2.2 years). The following items were significantly associated with good health (after adjustment for age and gender): being able to do things that make one feel valuable, having no physical problems affecting participation in social activities, not feeling sad, not having reduced energy, and not having impaired endurance. Conclusions The main conclusion of this study is that questions focusing on risks could be seen from a health promotion perspective and could thus be turned into assets with a positive impact on older persons’ health. Furthermore, the mental and physical factors identified in the results as associated with good health have implications for the person’s ability to feel valuable and participate in social activities. The results suggest that issues regarding both health promotion as well as risk prevention must be brought up during the preventive home visit.
Preventive home visits (PHVs) are offered to older persons with the purpose of promoting health and preventing risks on an individual level. However, aspects of health need to be considered on a societal level as well. This study aims to get a deeper understanding of perceptions of the usability of the information compiled during the PHVs to promote health, among older persons, on a societal level. Three online focus groups were conducted with heads of unit of PHVs, heads of department, and politicians responsible for health and welfare in seven municipalities in Sweden (n = 12). The findings were visualised in the core category Enable an inclusive society and the interrelated categories Monitoring determinants of health and Enabling exchange of information. The information from the PHVs could be used to monitor determinants of health by identifying assets, challenges, shifts, trends, and future needs in the society. Moreover, exchange of information from the PHVs could occur within and outside the health and welfare organisation. However, the potential use was affected by hindrances illustrated in the category Obstacles to interpreting and communicating the information. To conclude, using the information from the PHVs could possibly contribute to an inclusive society, where persons not usually represented in decision making are given a voice.
Older person's experiences of benefits gained from the support and advice given during preventive home visits Background: Life expectancy is increasing all over the world. To be able to support this positive development, health interventions focusing on promotion and prevention are crucial. Preventive home visits represent one example of a health intervention which addresses both promotion through a supportive dialogue and prevention by giving advice. However, to give support and advice that older persons experience as beneficial, there is a need for more research. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore older person's experiences of the benefits gained from the support and advice given during the preventive home visit. Method: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 older persons, median age 77 years old, living at home, who had received a preventive home visit. The interviews were analysed with content analysis. Findings:The overarching theme Becoming empowered and recognised as a person was experienced as the major benefit of the support and advice given during the preventive home visit. The support and advice generated conditions for the person to become empowered, by contributing to a feeling of control and preparedness for the future. Furthermore, the support and advice given contributed to a feeling of becoming recognised as a person, as an outcome of the supportive dialogue and the assessment of their health, behaviour and their surrounding environment. Conclusion:The support and advice given during the preventive home visit were experienced as person-centred, and conditions for becoming empowered were created. In order to create a positive outcome from the support and advice given during the preventive home visit, it seems important to focus on providing both a supportive dialogue and a structured assessment.
Background and aim To inform health promotion interventions, there is a need for large studies focusing specifically on what makes older adults feel good, from their own perspective. The aim was to explore older adults’ views of what makes them feel good in relation to their different characteristics. Methods A qualitative and quantitative study design was used. Independently living people (n = 1212, mean age 78.85) answered the open-ended question, ‘What makes you feel good?’ during preventive home visits. Following inductive and summative content analysis, data was deductively sorted, based on The Canadian model of occupational performance and engagement, into the categories leisure, productivity, and self-care. Group comparisons were made between: men/women; having a partner/being single; and those with bad/good subjective health. Results In total, 3117 notes were reported about what makes older adults feel good. Leisure activities were the most frequently reported (2501 times), for example social participation, physical activities, and cultural activities. Thereafter, productivity activities (565 times) such as gardening activities and activities in relation to one’s home were most frequently reported. Activities relating to self-care (51 times) were seldom reported. There were significant differences between men and women, having a partner and being single, and those in bad and good health, as regards the activities they reported as making them feel good. Discussion and conclusions To enable older adults to feel good, health promotion interventions can create opportunities for social participation and physical activities which suit older adults’ needs. Such interventions should be adapted to different groups.
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