An Alternative View of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Eldercare

Abstract

Eldercare is a specific component of the health care life cycle. As our societies age, there is a growing recognition of the value and importance of providing quality care for our older adults. Traditional approaches to health promotion and disease prevention focus on lifestyle change, screening tests, and immunizations. This paper highlights the interconnectivity of three areas: the individual, the community, and society, to facilitate effective health promotion and disease prevention in eldercare. While health promotion and disease prevention is a public health construct, interacting areas of the lives of older adults influence the success or failure of these programs. Each area can promote quality health care or become a barrier to effective disease prevention strategies.