Barriers to health promotion in community dwelling elders

As the number of elders who live in the community increases, promoting their health and independence is a priority of nursing care. As suggested in the Health Promotion Model, barriers can impede the practice of health promotionn. In this descriptive correlational study, community-dwelling elders 65 and older were recruited (N=141) to examine the relationship between attentional demands as measured by the Attentional Demands Survey and health promotion. The results indicate that attentional demands may act as barriers, reducing elders' ability to engage in health promotion. Community health nurses can focus care toward reducing attentional demands and improving health promotion.