Health Promotion for Older Adults: Directions for Research

Abstract

Susan Noble Walker, Ed.D., is Co-Director, Health Promotion Research Program, Social Science Research Institute; Associate Professor, Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. The interface between formulation of health policy and generation of health promotion research priorities was explored last year in the Research Agenda.1 In that discussion, the federal government’s increasing emphasis on prevention and health promotion policy over the past decade, culminating in the Year 2000 Health for the Nation objectives initiative, was outlined. Despite the demographic imperative of an expanding aging population, many have recognized that the 1990 objectives did not adequately address the needs and health priorities of older adults? -4 The Year 2000 objectives deal much more extensively with setting appropriate, and achievable targets for promoting the health of older Americans than the 1990 objectives. Therefore, it is timely to address some of the emerging priorities for health promotion research with older adults.