CREATING EMPOWERING MEANING - AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS OF PROMOTING HEALTH WITH CHRONICALLY-ILL OLDER CANADIANS

Many health promotion approaches afford education about disease preven tion and enhancement of one's health status. But strategies for enabli ng older people with chronic illness to better mobilize their resource s for everyday living still require development. This practical action research study explored the experiences of 13 purposefully selected o lder persons who participated in a health promotion intervention premi sed on the adult education theory of perspective transformation. Findi ngs illuminate health promotion through a holistic interactive process in which professional and chronically ill older person together evolv ed a caring relationship and enhanced conscious awareness of life and health experiences. Five health-promoting strategies were identified b uilding trust and meaning; connecting; caring; mutual knowing; and mut ual creating. Researchers suggest several important directions to refi ne professional practice approaches and health care delivery systems i n order to promote the health af older persons with chronic conditions .