Empowering Socially Vulnerable Older Adults: The AHAA Project's Holistic Health Literacy Approach

Abstract

Background

The ‘Active and Healthy Ageing for All’ (AHAA) project, initiated by Odisee University of Applied Sciences in Belgium, aims to enhance the health literacy of home-dwelling older adults. This project addresses the need for tailored health education programs for socially disadvantaged older adults, who are often underserved by conventional preventive health initiatives. The AHAA project began in 2019, focusing initially on nutrition and physical activity, and later expanding to include sleep, stress management, motivation, and positive psychology. The program was developed through a needs assessment and co-creation with the target group and partners, ensuring relevance and accessibility.

Methods

The AHAA project utilized a comprehensive approach involving needs assessment, co-creation with target groups, pilot testing, and implementation across six partner organizations. The program included ten weekly group sessions covering nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, motivation, and positive psychology. Evaluation was conducted using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and activity trackers to measure changes in health literacy and lifestyle behaviors.

Results

Preliminary results indicate improvements in participants’ health literacy and lifestyle behaviors. The group-based approach fostered social support and engagement, which were crucial for sustaining behavior changes. A trainers’ manual was developed, implemented and evaluated in practice.

Discussion and Conclusions

The AHAA project demonstrates the potential of tailored, community-based interventions to improve health outcomes among vulnerable older adults. The co-creation process and the focus on holistic health were key to the program's success. Future efforts should aim to expand the program's reach and explore long-term impacts on participants’ health and well-being.

Key messages

• The AHAA project enhances health literacy and lifestyle behaviors among socially vulnerable older adults through a comprehensive, co-created program focusing on holistic health.

• The AHAA project empowers socially vulnerable older adults through co-creation, fostering ownership and engagement crucial for sustaining health improvements and lifestyle changes.