Page 230 - Cultural Competence in Health Education

208 Cultural Competence in Health Education and Health Promotion

HEALTHY AGING AND HEALTH EDUCATION
The expected economic impact on the nation ’ s health care system resulting from
population increases among individuals aged 65 and over demands that additional pre-
vention services be developed and implemented among and specifically for that popu-

lation group (Wallace, 2005). Health care expenditures on the elderly account for
approximately 38 percent of all today ’ s health care expenditures. It is expected that the
projected increase in the 65 and older population will translate into even higher levels
of health care service demands and expenditures for this population group (CDC,
2004). In fact, government estimates project a 25 percent increase in health care
expenditures by 2030 as a result of the increase in the overall age of the population
(CDC, n.d., p. 2). Given the toll this will take on economic as well as personal
resources, it is not surprising that public health professionals are being called on to
assist older adults to improve their quality of life and prevent or avoid debilitating and
expensive treatments.
The expected increased demand for health care services and subsequent increased
costs is partially due to the fact that approximately one out of every three older adults
has at least one chronic condition affecting his or her ability to function (Lang, Moore,
Harris, & Anderson, 2005). Individuals in the older age group are also more likely to
be hospitalized than younger individuals (Lewin Group, 2001).
Given the population shifts described previously, it is not surprising that the CDC

has identified three specific areas that need to be addressed in our attempts to reach the
elderly in the United States with health education. Attention to these areas improves
the likelihood of the happy and functional transition from our working years to our
retirement age that most of us look forward to (Atchley & Barusch, 2004; Hillier &
Barrow, 2007). Specially, the CDC has recommended additional efforts in the areas of
(1) the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, one that incorporates physical activity, proper
nutrition, and avoidance of tobacco products; (2) the early detection of diseases, includ-
ing the use of diagnostic exams such as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and tests for
colorectal cancer; and (3) the use of specific immunizations, such as fl u shots.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2000), while establishing
new guidelines for health promotion and disease prevention through Healthy People
2010, notes that a major focus of these goals is increasing functional life expectancy.
The challenges for partnerships in learning and collaborative efforts to develop
effective educational venues involve dealing with cultural limitations, social and
economic constraints, health care access, and transportation barriers. Older adults ’
participation in and acceptance of community endeavors involves additional consid-
erations, such as their willingness to accept community support, their personal fi nan-
cial constraints, and their lack of previous knowledge about community resources
available to them.
Health promotion programs targeting the elderly should be designed to promote

well - being in old age and, more specifically, to promote productive, robust, and successful

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