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Health promotion for the rural elderly
Summary
Health promotion programs for the rural elderly show minor urban-rural differences in practices. Semi-rural residents received more activities than rural ones, despite being less disabled.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Growing interest in health promotion for rural elderly to support successful aging.
- Need to understand rural vs. urban differences in health promotion delivery.
- California Preventive Health Care for the Aging Program (PHCAP) as a model program.
Purpose of the Study:
- Describe a health promotion program for the elderly.
- Identify differences in health promotion activities between rural and urban populations.
- Analyze factors influencing health promotion scope in rural settings.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from over 5,000 clients in the California PHCAP.
- Comparison of health promotion practices across rural, semi-rural, and urban project sites.
- Examination of demographic characteristics and disability levels.
Main Results:
- Rural and urban clients showed significant demographic differences but minor differences in health promotion practices.
- Semi-rural residents received a wider scope of health promotion activities than rural residents, despite lower disability.
- Possible site, practitioner, and client factors may explain restricted rural health promotion.
Conclusions:
- The California PHCAP successfully identified health problems and referred clients for treatment across all sites.
- Health promotion activities for the rural elderly may be more restricted than for urban counterparts.
- Further investigation into factors limiting rural health promotion is warranted.