Healthy lifestyle among older adults in rural Georgia: Implications and applications of a theory driven approach
Abstract
Background: Disparity in rural older adult health is a significant issue. Rural areas have fewer resources for healthcare, less healthcare information, and also barriers of underinsurance. Understanding physical activity patterns, diet, social support and other factors are important for developing measurable tailored and targeted messages addressing primary prevention and health motivation.
Methods: In addition to conducing focus groups targeting the health belief model at two senior centers in a high risk and a lower risk rural county, participants (N=45) were asked to enter their experiences and perceptions on a questionnaire addressing the following areas: Dietary habits, exercise habits, sleeping patterns, social support, use of addictive substances, prescription medicine use and disposal, exercise habits, role of faith and spirituality, knowledge of mindfulness, and perceptions of telehealth for meeting health needs.
Results: Initial evaluation of results indicate more food is prepared at home compared to eating fast-food, tempered by traditions and lack of food sources resulting in some dietary concerns. Initial evaluation also indicates that soda consumption containing sugar was much higher than the use of diet soda, while smoking and alcohol consumption was rare event, possibly due to the advanced age of participants (M=78.42). Full results, including factors related to mindfulness, and also telehealth, will be included in the presentation.
Conclusion: Initial recommendations include motivating opportunities for seniors for a healthier lifestyle, including healthier home cooking while addressing healthy food limitations in the local market, addressing recommendations for multi-vitamin use, reducing sugary soda consumption, and creating walking and tai chi groups to offer user-friendly exercises targeting primary health threats identified from the focus group results, and opportunities related to mindfulness for managing stress and pain. These exercises have shown evidence-based benefits for blood pressure, chronic pain, obesity, diabetes, mental wellness, and musculoskeletal health, among other benefits.
Keywords
Lifestyle, Older Adults, Rural Georgia, Dietary Habits
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Healthy lifestyle among older adults in rural Georgia: Implications and applications of a theory driven approach
Background: Disparity in rural older adult health is a significant issue. Rural areas have fewer resources for healthcare, less healthcare information, and also barriers of underinsurance. Understanding physical activity patterns, diet, social support and other factors are important for developing measurable tailored and targeted messages addressing primary prevention and health motivation.
Methods: In addition to conducing focus groups targeting the health belief model at two senior centers in a high risk and a lower risk rural county, participants (N=45) were asked to enter their experiences and perceptions on a questionnaire addressing the following areas: Dietary habits, exercise habits, sleeping patterns, social support, use of addictive substances, prescription medicine use and disposal, exercise habits, role of faith and spirituality, knowledge of mindfulness, and perceptions of telehealth for meeting health needs.
Results: Initial evaluation of results indicate more food is prepared at home compared to eating fast-food, tempered by traditions and lack of food sources resulting in some dietary concerns. Initial evaluation also indicates that soda consumption containing sugar was much higher than the use of diet soda, while smoking and alcohol consumption was rare event, possibly due to the advanced age of participants (M=78.42). Full results, including factors related to mindfulness, and also telehealth, will be included in the presentation.
Conclusion: Initial recommendations include motivating opportunities for seniors for a healthier lifestyle, including healthier home cooking while addressing healthy food limitations in the local market, addressing recommendations for multi-vitamin use, reducing sugary soda consumption, and creating walking and tai chi groups to offer user-friendly exercises targeting primary health threats identified from the focus group results, and opportunities related to mindfulness for managing stress and pain. These exercises have shown evidence-based benefits for blood pressure, chronic pain, obesity, diabetes, mental wellness, and musculoskeletal health, among other benefits.
