Health Behaviors of Older Canadians

Gero 302Jan 2012

Introduction

• A substantial proportion of older adults lead inactive lives and fall short of standards for preventive health care screening and visits.

• A majority thought no changes were needed and made no effort to change to improve their health.

Preventive Care

• The first decade of the 21st Century has been designated as the “Decade of Behavior” Reduce high risk behaviors and modify behaviors which can have an impact on overall health.

• There is a wide array of dietary and pharmaceutical changes that could be made to benefit health

• Public health goals are in part derived from prevalence estimates, preventive visits and screening compliance.

• What are the demographic characteristics of older adults most likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors or self-neglect?

• To date many interventions have met with only moderate success

Findings

• ¼ older adults reported no physical activity over 3 month period.

• Little movement around such issues as smoking cessation, use of designated drivers, dental visits, eye exams, flu shots, more frequent physicals, shortfall on mammography, pap smears (50% no smear in five years), breast self-exams, more control is needed around diet, weight control, preventive care, increase in use of certain foods.

• Barriers included lack of will-power, increased health teaching by GP’s, smoking cessation. Females generally more healthy and health conscious.