Center for Healthy Aging Community Outreach and Demonstration Project

University of Pittsburgh: Center for Healthy Aging

Topics:
Aging & Elderly Health | Cancer | Cardiovascular Health
Diabetes | Mental Health | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults

Allegheny County in western Pennsylvania has one of the highest concentrations of adults aged 65 years and older, second only to Dade County, Florida. Older adults are at risk for heart disease and stroke, diabetes, flu, pneumonia, disability, suicide, and other preventable conditions. However, those who engage in physical activity, healthy diets, socially and mentally stimulating activities, cancer screening, and other positive health behaviors can often maintain active and healthy lives. Project staff previously developed and tested a program, Ten Keys to Healthy Aging, that addresses 10 conditions essential for maintaining health in older adults: 1) prevent bone loss and muscle weakness, 2) control blood pressure, 3) increase physical activity, 4) regulate blood sugar, 5) stop smoking, 6) maintain social contact, 7) participate in cancer screening, 8) get regular immunizations, 9) lower cholesterol, and 10) combat depression. Preliminary results showed improvements in several of the 10 key areas. Researchers collaborated with community partners to refine the program and added behavioral components to increase physical activity, improve eating habits, and enhance social support and mental acuity.

Project staff are implementing and evaluating two different interventions for about l,000 older adults: a healthy lifestyle intervention and a brief education intervention. After completing an initial 4-hour assessment related to the ten key areas of healthy aging listed above, participants are randomly assigned to an intervention group. Participants in both groups meet with a health counselor who explains the results of their assessments and offers recommendations. Participants then identify one or two goals for improving their results and are referred to their doctors as needed. Individuals in the brief education group are referred to appropriate community resources and receive follow-up calls from the health counselor every 3 months. (Participants who have uncontrolled high blood pressure, report less than 2-hours of weekly physical activity, have several symptoms of depression, and are not taking medications as prescribed are contacted once a month.)

Adults in the healthy lifestyle intervention join in weekly walking groups and attend group sessions to learn about healthy food choices for controlling blood pressure and diabetes, and exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance. Additional social activities are provided where participants can get support from peers; practice techniques to maintain and enhance memory and other mental abilities; and learn about the risk factors for cancer, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, memory loss, and other conditions associated with aging. All participants will complete the assessments again at 6 and 12 months after the intervention, and every year thereafter for 3–4 years. Post-intervention results of the 2 intervention groups will be compared with each other and with individuals’ initial assessments. Evaluators will analyze participants’ clinical and behavioral measures of health and determine the extent to which the interventions decreased participants’ risk for stroke, heart failure, cancer, disability, institutionalization, and suicide over time.

 

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