gms | German Medical Science

Older people living in socially disadvantaged conditions are exposed to greater health hazards. The risk to their health is generally higher and they should be addressed specifically concerning health promotion measures and their own responsibilities.

The project 'Health for older people in local districts' was developed following a BKK-BV initiative, “More Health for all”, and is managed and co-ordinated by the „Team Gesundheit – Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsmanagement mbH”. The project is supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation with funding to finance the documentation and evaluation.

The main goal of the project is to sensitise and activate older, socially disadvantaged people who have not yet been approached, to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle in order to maintain their health and independence as long as possible. Activity is not meant just as exercise itself, but also a willingness to face up to issues concerning age and health, building up social networks and organising leisure activities. If the projects and activities on offer are to have a lasting effect, it is also important to engage the people involved in networks the in various urban districts.

The project will begin in those areas receiving special funding from the regional programme 'Soziale Stadt NRW'. The district managers in the selected areas will play a key role in the project as they are located in the immediate proximity of the target group. This new approach will be of an innovative nature, as it will make use of the crosslinked organisation ans institutions, like the NRW sport federation and local sport clubsto gain access to the persons concerned. The practical implementation is based on a broader understanding of health which means providing scope for wider health issues and new opportunities. The methods used in the setting-approach following the WHO strategies play an important role.

1.

Initial choice of districts with regard to social, demographic and infrastructural characteristics

2.

Kick off meeting. The district managers in the selected areas familiarsed themselves with the project idea and basics of health promotion. Possible strategies of the promotion for the elderly were described

3.

Documentation and evaluation (process evaluation) of the procedure in the districts: survey amongs the project participants and interviews with district managers

4.

Documentation of the approaches likely to be successful

Networking local institutions and stakeholder, concerned with such issues as ageing and health & physical exercise, contributes to achieving sustained success of the activities, which were introduced during the course of the project.