This article describes a qualitative evaluation of the Seniors Active Living in Vulnerable Elders (ALIVE) program, a 10-month health promotion program for low income seniors. Program interventions delivered in seniors' apartment buildings included exercise classes, health information sessions (i.e., health corners), and newsletters. The evaluation examined program participation, program impacts, and how the program worked. The most frequent reason for joining the program was recognizing the benefits of exercise, and the most frequent reason for not attending the program was having other priorities. The main participant impact was "feeling better." Specific impacts were also noted in physical, mental, and social domains. Fun, program delivery adaptations, autonomy, social interactions, and staff-participant relationships were discovered to be important program processes. These processes all contributed to participant's "comfort" in the program. How and why the program worked is examined in relation to Pender's (1996) revised health promotion model and implications for nursing are indicated.

This article describes a qualitative evaluation of the Seniors Active Living in Vulnerable Elders (ALIVE) program, a 10-month health promotion program for low income seniors. Program interventions delivered in seniors' apartment buildings included exercise classes, health information sessions (i.e., health corners), and newsletters. The evaluation examined program participation, program impacts, and how the program worked. The most frequent reason for joining the program was recognizing the benefits of exercise, and the most frequent reason for not attending the program was having other priorities. The main participant impact was "feeling better." Specific impacts were also noted in physical, mental, and social domains. Fun, program delivery adaptations, autonomy, social interactions, and staff-participant relationships were discovered to be important program processes. These processes all contributed to participant's "comfort" in the program. How and why the program worked is examined in relation to Pender's (1996) revised health promotion model and implications for nursing are indicated.

How are the concepts health, health promotion, faith community, and health determinants connected? How can a nurse draw on the unique features of a faith community to promote health? In this article, we explore the relations among these concepts and consider the answers to these questions. Parish nurses provide a concrete example of the interactions among these concepts. They are often hired by faith communities to intentionally promote health within and beyond the faith community. Increasingly, faith communities are being used as settings for health promotion interventions. We describe examples of how a parish nurse can influence 2 determinants of health: social support and healthy child development.

How are the concepts health, health promotion, faith community, and health determinants connected? How can a nurse draw on the unique features of a faith community to promote health? In this article, we explore the relations among these concepts and consider the answers to these questions. Parish nurses provide a concrete example of the interactions among these concepts. They are often hired by faith communities to intentionally promote health within and beyond the faith community. Increasingly, faith communities are being used as settings for health promotion interventions. We describe examples of how a parish nurse can influence 2 determinants of health: social support and healthy child development.