OBJECTIVES:

We previously found in an efficacy trial that a health promotion program prevented functional decline and reduced hospitalizations in community-dwelling older people with chronic conditions. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in its dissemination phase.

DESIGN:

Outcome evaluation using a within-group, pretest-posttest design.

SETTING:

Fourteen senior centers located throughout western Washington.

PARTICIPANTS:

Three hundred four community-dwelling men and women aged 65 and older.

INTERVENTION:

A disability-prevention, chronic disease-self-management program.

MEASUREMENTS:

Participant characteristics, risk factors for disability, change in health and functional status, and healthcare use over 1 year of enrollment; participant satisfaction.

RESULTS:

Participants were 71% female, had a mean age of 76, and reported three chronic health conditions on average. The percentage of participants found to be depressed decreased (28% at time of enrollment vs 17% at 1-year follow-up, P =.005). The percentage of physically inactive participants decreased (56% vs 38%, P =.001). Physical activity level and exercise readiness improved (Physician-based Assessment and Counseling for Exercise mean score 4.3 vs 5.1, P =.001). At follow-up, 83% rated their health the same as or better than a year ago, compared with 73% at time of enrollment. The proportion with impaired functional status, as measured by bed days and restricted activity days, stayed the same. The proportion hospitalized remained stable (23% at enrollment and follow-up, P = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS:

Under real world conditions, the Health Enhancement Program reaches older people at risk of functional decline. Those enrolled for 1 year experience a reduction in disability risk factors, improvement in health status, no decrements in functional status, and no increase in self-reported healthcare use.