ELDERLY CLIENTS PERCEPTIONS - INDIVIDUAL HEALTH COUNSELING AND GROUP SESSIONS

This descriptive, exploratory study examined elderly clients' percepti ons of individualized health counselling and group wellness sessions t hat were offered by public health nurses in clinic settings. The sampl e included 36 elderly persons living independently in the community. T he participants reported that individualized health counselling and gr oup wellness sessions provided different kinds of benefits and service s. Monitoring of health status, support, and health teaching were valu ed nursing activities within individualized health counselling. Partic ipants said that group wellness sessions were an effective means of ac quiring general knowledge about aging and lifestyle choices but this f ormat could not totally meet all their health care needs. Regardless o f clinic type, blood pressure monitoring was viewed as important. Reco gnition of elderly clients' perceptions is crucial in planning and imp lementing programs that are appropriate and acceptable for improving t he quality of life for this age group.