A social model for health promotion for an aging population: initial evidence on the Experience Corps model

This report evaluates whether a program for older volunteers, designed for both generativity and health promotion, leads to short-term improvements in multiple behavioral risk factors and positive effects on intermediary risk factors for disability and other morbidities. The Experience Corps(R) plac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of urban health 2004-03, Vol.81 (1), p.64-78
Main Authors: Fried, Linda P, Carlson, Michelle C, Freedman, Marc, Frick, Kevin D, Glass, Thomas A, Hill, Joel, McGill, Sylvia, Rebok, George W, Seeman, Teresa, Tielsch, James, Wasik, Barbara A, Zeger, Scott
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged - physiology
Aged - psychology
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Baltimore
Baltimore, Maryland
Cognition
Cognitive Functioning
Elderly
Elementary Schools
Faculty
Female
Health Behavior
Health promotion
Health Promotion - methods
Humans
Income
Intergenerational Relations
Male
Middle Aged
Morbidity
Motivation
Motor Activity
Older people
Physical Fitness
Pilot Projects
Risk Factors
Risk taking
Schools
Schools - manpower
Social networks
Social Participation
Social Support
Teachers
Volunteers
Volunteers - psychology
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Summary:This report evaluates whether a program for older volunteers, designed for both generativity and health promotion, leads to short-term improvements in multiple behavioral risk factors and positive effects on intermediary risk factors for disability and other morbidities. The Experience Corps(R) places older volunteers in public elementary schools in roles designed to meet schools' needs and increase the social, physical, and cognitive activity of the volunteers. This article reports on a pilot randomized trial in Baltimore, Maryland. The 128 volunteers were 60-86 years old; 95% were African American. At follow-up of 4-8 months, physical activity, strength, people one could turn to for help, and cognitive activity increased significantly, and walking speed decreased significantly less, in participants compared to controls. In this pilot trial, physical, cognitive, and social activity increased, suggesting the potential for the Experience Corps to improve health for an aging population and simultaneously improve educational outcomes for children.
ISSN:1099-3460
1471-8505
1468-2869
DOI:10.1093/jurban/jth094