Community-based health coaching, exercise, and health service utilization

The outcomes of the California Public Employees Retirement System's Health Matters program, a replication of a health promotion and fitness program known as the Senior Wellness Program (SWP), are reported.

A randomized controlled design (n = 504) was used. Eligibility included one or more qualifying chronic health conditions, age 65 or older, member of a participating health plan, and owner of a CalPERS long-term care insurance policy. Disability risk factors were measured via questionnaires and included health status, pain, exercise, depression, and social activity. Activity was compiled in project records.

At 12 months, Health Matters members were engaged in significantly more stretching and aerobic exercise than the controls. Depressive symptoms decreased among those with moderate or higher symptom scores.

Health Matters extends the SWP model to younger, more active, and healthier individuals with improvements in duration of exercise and stretching; use of other health promotion activities was low.