Healthier seniors : a health risk appraisal for senior citizens

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between selected variables influencing the health status of elderly East Tennesseans. To facilitate appropriate health education for them, as for any specific population, it is essential to know the nature of their health risks. A computerized health risk appraisal was used to identify self-perceived health behaviors important to present and future health status. In addition, the program computed a health score for each individual. An addendum was included which elicited further pertinent information on each subject such as marital status, living arrangement and type of housing. The subjects of this study were 210 nonhomebound East Tennesseans aged 59-93 who frequented the area senior citizens centers. Each of the sixteen counties of the East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging was visited. Pearson correlation coefficients and the Chi-Square test were performed to answer the research questions. The findings of this study led to the following conclusions regarding East Tennessee elderly who utilize the area senior centers. 1. Frequency of physical activity and self-perceived health status of the elderly are unrelated to gender. 2. Marital status is not an indicator of frequency of physical activity. 3. Whether one lives alone or shares a dwelling does not influence frequency of physical activity. 4. The more education an individual has achieved, the healthier he/she will perceive himself/herself to be. 5. Elderly who are able to maintain a single family dwelling consider themselves healthier than do those who reside in apartments or other congregate sites. 6. Healthy bowel detection habits are unrelated to the consumption of a high fiber, low fat diet. 7. Having the signs and symptoms of diabetes is not an indicator as to whether one has been diagnosed as having the disease.