Community-Based Nurse Health Coaching and Its Effect on Fitness Participation

Abstract

This article reports on the characteristics of the individuals participating in Health Matters, a community-based health promotion and fitness program for the elderly. A total of 255 persons were recruited into the program. Eligibility criteria included having one or more qualifying chronic health conditions, being 65 or older, having membership in a participating health plan, and ownership of a CalPERS long-term care insurance policy. The intervention included nurse health coaching, training in self-management of chronic illness, referrals to community resources, and a fitness program. More than 90% of participants were in exercise programs at 12 months, and 30% had participated in one or more condition management classes. Health Matters' senior-oriented fitness program was more successful in attracting higher disability risk members than were either community-based or self-exercise programs. Health Matters demonstrated that it is possible to proactively recruit and retain individuals in a health-promotion program. The nurse coaches/case managers communicated with primary care physicians about the enrollees and their health action plans, but recruitment did not rely on physician referrals.

A five state dissemination of a communitybased disability prevention program for older adults

“…Two papers describe a program very similar to HEP, called Health Matters, implemented by a California long-term care insurance company in consultation with original HEP staff (Holland et al 2003, 2005; Tidwell et al 2004). A comparison of the Health Matters program and HEP has been published previously (Leveille et al 2004).…”

“…The overall enrollment target at the outset of the funding period was 700 participants. We also note an independent implementation of a very similar program, called Health Matters, that enrolled a lower-risk population at one site in California (Holland et al 2003; Leveille et al 2004; Tidwell et al 2004). Both the importance and the inherent difficulty of such translational research are increasingly recognized, as highly effective programs have faced substantial challenges and barriers to large-scale dissemination (Olds 2002; Gross et al 2004).…”

Evaluatie Zichtbare Schakels Rotterdam

“…Om de kosten voor de zorg niet nog verder te laten stijgen worden alternatieven gezocht om doelmatige, integrale zorg te verlenen aan thuiswonende kwetsbare mensen, waarbij de inzet van wijkverpleegkundigen steeds vaker als mogelijke oplossing wordt gezien. 1,2,[14][15][16][17][18] Door bij mensen thuis hun problemen te inventariseren en gedurende een langere periode thuis ondersteuning te bieden wordt de ontwikkeling van beperkingen en chronische aandoeningen vertraagd en de kans op opname in een verpleeghuis kleiner. 19,20 De wijkverpleegkundige als Zichtbare schakel in de wijk zet in op informatievoorziening en coördinatie van zowel de ingezette activiteiten voor individuele burgers als breder in de wijk.…”

Integrative Nurse Coaching for Health and Wellness

“…Nurse coaches are working as public health nurses, community health care providers, and parish nurses, and work in the full range of ambulatory care. [15][16][17][18][19] Nurse coaches hold positions in governmental regulatory agencies. In addition to their presence in all these areas, these professionals are caring for the full array of patients in oncology, 20-23 cardiology, pediatrics, etc., in acute-care settings, primary care, 24,25 home care, hospice settings, hospitals, 26,27 clinics, and long-term and rehabilitation centers.…”