“Tone Your Bones”: A Model for Health Education for Older Adults

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Health education programs for older adults are one strategy to encourage people to adopt lifestyle changes for optimal disease management. To be successful, these programs should be designed considering age-related changes in both cognitive function and motor learning. This article describes a community-based health education program for older adults with osteoporosis, the “Tone Your Bones” (TYB) program. Optimal management of osteoporosis includes medications, calcium and vitamin D, movement re-education, and physical activity. To be able to appropriately change one's lifestyle, people need to understand the condition and perform movements in a manner that minimizes the risk of fracture. Program Description. The article describes the development of the program, the educational strategies and health behavior theory used to design the program, the participants, and the short-term evaluation of the program. Results and Conclusion. We provide documentation of improvements in strength, flexibility, and balance for program participants. We also describe our plans for long-term evaluation and for expansion of the program. The TYB program is an example of an approach that encourages older adults to take control of their health through education and lifestyle changes.