Health promotion strategies for elderly people in Spain

Jorge Marcos Marcos

European Master of Public HealthModule on Health and Social Protection of Elderly PeopleInstitute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Krakow

21st October. Kraków, Poland

some data to focus the issue

Evolution of elderly people, 1900-2060

A graph about demographic evolution in Spain, 1900-2060

Life expectancy at birth. European Union, 2006

Healthy older people

How to improve or maintain fitness and psychological functioning of healthy older persons?

Implementetion through the municipalities of programs like:

. water activities . gymnastic . traditional games . dances . hiking . yoga, tai-chi . relaxation techniques . etc

How to educate healthy older persons about healthy ageing ?

Schools for Elderly, to carry out tasks not only of Basic Education -if necessary-, but also:

. Courses in health education (topics : nutrition, physical activity, drug use and abuse, polypharmacy,....)

. Programs for the prevention of memory disorders, through activities such as conversation, storytelling, theater games, proverbs incomplete, making auto-biographies (this can be done in collaboration with students from related disciplines), reminders of historical events, mental arithmetic, sudokus,…

Social Centers for Elderly:

. Iniciation to internet

.

. Gardening

How to integrate the healthy older persons with the community to enhance their activity ?

. Volunteer activities

. Promote holiday programs for the elderly

Enhance the Centers for Ederly people, as meeting spaces and from where foster the development of activities that benefit their social integration:

Through Social Services:

. Cafeteria and food service . Organization of leisure activities (table games,…)

Older people in temporary need

How to improve or maintain fitness of older persons who lost it?

With a specific program applied in a Geriatric Hospitals or with specialistic teams of care at home or in a Center for elderly.

Depending on the specific medical need, access, for example, to treatment programs with thermal water.

How to educate older persons being in temporary need?

In coordination with Primary Care,...

...the Social Services are responsible of sending the case to some close Association or Center to receive training appropriate to their needs.

How to integrate older persons being in temporary need with the community?

Through of Centers for Elderly People:

. Social Atention: establishment of transport plan.

. Attention to psychological and physical health: occupational therapy servicies.

. Socialization and participation:personal relationships, leisure and culture activities.

Chronically ill or disabled elders, who need long term care

How to improve or maintain fitness and psychological functioning in these patients ?

. Social transport service to some Center for elderly.

. Home help service for realization of physical exercise personalized.

. Social aid for adaptation of home (access, shower, ...).

For patients who need long term care, as in the case of Alzheimer's disease, the Centers of Gerontology can apply cognitive stimulation programs and others activities in the education of this patients.

How to educate the chronically ill or disabled older persons or their families?

How to integrate the chronically ill or disabled older persons with the community ?

. Attention to all medical necessities and social recreation in Social Centers for Elderly People during the day or in residential centers or in others alternative

accommodation.

. Services at home:

. Nursing: mobilization, ... . Visits by volunteers (others elderly) .Wheelchair, walkers,...

... to age is part of the process of living... even when someone has been a hero.