SHAPE: A Healthy Aging Community Project Designed Based on the Salutogenic Theory

Abstract

Salutogenesis introduces a paradigm that requires a perceptual change towards what creates health and how health can be facilitated. Removing the lens of pathogenesis, aging is an achievement to be embraced and older people are valued as assets for their wealth of experiences, resources, skills and knowledge. From the perspectives of older adults, the concept of healthy aging is multidimensional, comprising bio-psycho-social-spiritual health. Evidence shows that sense of coherence via resistance resources promotes health outcomes among older adults. However, very few works have attempted to operationalise the salutogenic theory to promote healthy aging among older community dwellers. This chapter provides a detailed description of the Salutogenic Healthy Aging Program Embracement (SHAPE) intervention for senior-only household dwellers. SHAPE represents an application of the salutogenic concepts: sense of coherence and resistance resources. SHAPE is an integrative person-centric multi-dimensional health resource program that employs an asset-based insight-oriented approach. Illustration of examples in which how the salutogenic concepts were operationalised in developing the SHAPE intervention approach, its content, activities and the conduction of the intervention are presented.

eHealth Platforms to Promote Autonomous Life and Active Aging: A Scoping Review

“…The salutogenic perspective involves a conscious reflection on how the individual considers life as a whole in order to cope with the inherent vulnerabilities and stressors of old age. However, the research endeavors to operationalize the salutogenic theory in interventions for older adults to age in an healthy manner is scarce [ 3 ].…”

Qualitative Analysis of Coping Strategies Among Older Persons During COVID-19 Lockdown in Nigeria: Considerations for Community Health Promotion

“…Older persons naturally develop adaptive capacities, which are mainly psychological and experiential. 18 These capacities are accumulated through the life course as older persons respond to aging, declining health, and stressful life experiences. 19 Due to such incidents, older persons can emerge with psychological resources like personal competencies, self-beliefs, and interpersonal control to respond effectively to adverse conditions.…”

“…In this case, Antonovosky’s theory of salutogenesis is relevant to understanding how older persons adapt to stressful situations through a sense of coherence and using resistance resources. 18 First, older persons possess a sense of coherence in three ways. As such, they understand the nature of the stressful situation, mobilize existing resources, and take lessons from previous stressful events.…”

“…Religion is the most prominent social factor for adaptation among older persons. 18 Religion and its component of spirituality prevent the decline of immune functioning, which fear and anxiety can quickly deplete. 20 Religion potentially provides a better perception of well-being; this is also true among African-Americans.…”

Salutogenic Healthy Ageing Programme Embracement (SHAPE)- an upstream health resource intervention for older adults living alone and with their spouses only: complex intervention development and pilot randomized controlled trial

“…Additionally, self-efficacy was mobilised through the cognitive, behavioural and motivation pathways respectively by encouraging older adults to (a) perceive HPLB can result in better health outcome, (b) perceive that they can perform the HPLB, and (c) the intended health outcome of HPLB is of value to them. Information on how the salutogenic model of health was further incorporated in the design of SHAPE intervention [ 42 ] and via salutogenic principles were detailed elsewhere [ 43 ].…”