HEALTH COUNSELING FOR OLDER-PEOPLE IN HONG-KONG

The benefits of a health counseling service within, the Adult Health P romotion Centre (AHPC) in. Hong Kong are described and offered as evid ence of the benefits of self-education in health for older people. The health complaints of clients of the AHPC are identified through healt h checks and screening. In 1980, on the basis of screening and the res ults of a survey of clients at a health education seminar on what topi cs they would like information on, health counseling small groups were planned for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high serum cholesterol, and obesity. Clients were invited to join these health counseling grou ps, which were led by volunteer nurses. The main, focus of the health counseling service was to enhance clients' knowledge of health and pre ventative care through individual counseling and peer learning. In lin e with health promotion and empowerment concepts, clients were encoura ged to monitor and record their own health. Health counseling focused on wellness, teaching clients skills that enabled them to take respons ibility for their health, increasing their nutritional awareness, teac hing them stress management techniques, and promoting physical fitness . The implications for the training of health professionals and the ro le of older people in, health policy development are discussed. Ways o f improving health promotion services for older people are suggested.