PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND HEALTH PROMOTION FOR OLDER ADULTS IN PUBLIC-HOUSING

Introduction: Designing health promotion and disease prevention (HPDP) programs for older residents of public housing is hampered by a lack of information about residents' needs and interests. This study addres sed whether residents have greater needs for lifestyle modification or for preventive care and assessed interest in programs emphasizing phy sical activity. Methods: Older residents (n=199) of public housing fac ilities in Seattle were surveyed to assess HPDP needs. A comparison of residents with older HMO enrollees (n=2,289) identified which needs w ere relatively greater in residents of public housing. Residents' inte rest in physical activity programs was assessed by interviewing reside nts and by observing their interest in an exercise class. Results: The majority of residents could benefit from physical activity programs ( 75% of residents reported less than GO minutes per week of exercise); fewer residents could benefit from smoking cessation programs (21%) an d alcohol counseling (4%). The largest difference between residents an d HMO enrollees was the greater need of residents for physical activit y promotion. Residents and HMO enrollees reported similar use of preve ntive care services. Though residents seldom identified physical inact ivity as a major concern, residents demonstrated interest in physical activity programs. Eighteen (41%) of 44 residents participated regular ly or irregularly in an exercise class offered at their facility. When the class was scheduled to be discontinued, residents successfully lo bbied city government to sustain the class. Conclusions: The results s uggest promoting physical activity should be a major goal of HPDP prog rams for older residents of public housing.