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Quality of Life and Person-Centered Care for Older People pp 97–175Cite as

Health Promotion and Quality of Life in Old Age

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Abstract

Health promotion is considered to contribute to quality of life in old age. Programs are designed to encourage physical activities and lifestyle changes. They are, however, unlikely to achieve their aims if they fail to understand how they interfere with quality of life as it is perceived by older persons. This chapter summarizes the findings of 49 studies that investigated how older persons promote their health or try to prevent diseases and how they experience programs aimed at supporting them in this matter. Health promotion programs are likely to succeed if their focus is not restricted on disease prevention and physical fitness. When older persons participate in such programs their desire for physical activity and physical integrity always involves the satisfaction of their social, identity related and developmental needs. Programs that fail to address these needs are unlikely to meet the needs of their target group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Nursing Science, Philosophical-Theological University Vallendar, Vallendar, Germany

    Thomas Boggatz

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Boggatz, T. (2020). Health Promotion and Quality of Life in Old Age. In: Quality of Life and Person-Centered Care for Older People. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29990-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29990-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29989-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29990-3

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