[Development of a health promotion program for the target group "elderly people"]

The importance of health promotion for persons in the second half of their life span is increasing. Results of different studies published at the end of the eighties show that health risks and anatomical deterioration can be effectively reduced in later life. From a medical viewpoint, these results provide the basis for preventive and rehabilitative measures. Knowledge from gerontology, social sciences and psychology demonstrates the necesserity of health promotion including the total way of life. First, the demographic and social framework for a concept of health promotion will be presented. The article will start with a short overview of the demographic-historical situation and the focus on the situations of different generations. Finally, the concrete requirements for the development of health promotion programmes will be formulated.