COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION FOR WELL SENIOR CITIZENS
This research presents information emphasizing the importance of developing, implementing, and operating a comprehensive health education program for senior citizens. The target population groups for such a program includes middle class individuals aged 62 year and older who are ambulatory and live independently in an urban area with easy access to transportation, shopping, exercise, and health care facilities.
The desirable content of a health education program for senior citizens is presented in the discussion following this introductory material. The program content discussion is followed by a description of the nursing orientation and structure of such a program.
A comprehensive health education program for senior citizens should address as a minimum the topical areas of nutrition, physical exercise, breast care, and substance use. The significance of each of these factors for senior citizens is developed in the discussions that follow.
There is a general concern in the United States with respect to high levels of malnutrition among senior citizens (Cope, 1994, pp. 29 34). Malnutrition is considered to be a major risk for morbidity and mortality among senior citizens (Mion, McDowell, and Heaney, 1994, pp. 46 51). The prevalence of malnutrition among independently living senior citizens is estimated to range as high as 51 percent. Elderly persons generally are the largest demographic group at risk for nutrition disorders (Tonore and Bivona, 1992, pp. 40 46).
Malnutrition among senior citizens is recognized as a problem that involves physical, physiological, psychosocial, and economic factors (Mion, McDowell, and Heaney, 1994, pp. 46 51). Aging persons tend toward a decreased caloric intake that is accompanied by an increase in body fat and a decrease in lean body mass (Hoffman, 1993, pp. 745 756).
Interventions designed to improve nutrition among seni...