BENEFITS OF EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION/DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES

This session will outline the many benefits of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs for older adults and for the organizations that offer the programs. For older adults, the programs can improve quality of life; increase self-efficacy; increase or maintain independence, positive health behaviors, or mobility; reduce disability; and reduce pain. For community-based organizations, the programs can provide more efficient use of available resources; facilitate partnership development and community/clinical linkages; provide better health outcomes for clients; offer greater ease of replicating and disseminating programs; and, since the programs provide proven results, offer a greater opportunity for varied funding sources. Additionally, the session will provide a high level overview of the national dissemination of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs across the United States.