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Background: Nearly one in every seven Americans is 65 years and older, facing day-to-day challenge of aging. Although interest in healthy aging is growing, most of the efforts are directed towards understanding the perceptions of older adults. Little is known about the perspectives of community-based practitioners who work with older adults and deliver programs to promote healthy aging. The purpose of this project was to expand knowledge on healthy aging by exploring the perspectives of community-based practitioners working directly with older adults.
Methods: We purposively sampled community-based practitioners (n=12, including nurses, physician, social workers, and other community services professionals) working with older adults, who then participated in one of three in-depth focus group discussions conducted between March and June 2016. Each focus group discussion lasted for about two hours. Verbatim transcript data were analyzed in Atlas.ti 7 using a conventional content analysis with an inductive approach, and consensual validation of coding was achieved.
Results: Three core categories of healthy aging were identified: (1) characteristics of healthy aging; (2) healthy aging attainment; and (3) programs and activities for healthy aging. Practitioners identified a number of characteristics of healthy aging under person-specific (physiological, basic, psych-emotional, and cognitive needs), social aspects (creating community and contributing to the community), and spiritual dimensions (cultural views and beliefs) of healthy aging. Healthy aging attainment was represented as facilitators and barriers both with respect to care recipients and care providers, and programs and activities through promoting fitness and wellness.
Conclusions: The rapidly changing demographics and aging population in the United States and their various needs suggest the implications for recognizing opportunities and developing and implementing programs to promote healthy aging. Although practitioners’ perspectives had some overlap with traditional research and medical views on healthy aging, the unique and holistic conceptual framework derived in the study might provide a more refined foundation for delivering appropriate health care services to the American aging population.
Keywords
healthy aging, community-based practitioner, perspective, focus group discussion
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 10 Jun, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 10 Jun, 2020
Version 2
Posted 15 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 08 Jun, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 29 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 20 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 27 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 02 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 30 Mar, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 27 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 23 Mar, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 21 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 17 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 13 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 10 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 25 Feb, 2020
First submitted
On 24 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 24 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 24 Feb, 2020
Metrics
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PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at BMC Geriatrics.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 10 Jun, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 10 Jun, 2020
Version 2
Posted 15 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 08 Jun, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 29 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 20 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 11 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Apr, 2020
Editor invited
On 27 Apr, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 02 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 30 Mar, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 27 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 23 Mar, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 21 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 17 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 13 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 10 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 25 Feb, 2020
First submitted
On 24 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 24 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 24 Feb, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Geriatrics.
Background: Nearly one in every seven Americans is 65 years and older, facing day-to-day challenge of aging. Although interest in healthy aging is growing, most of the efforts are directed towards understanding the perceptions of older adults. Little is known about the perspectives of community-based practitioners who work with older adults and deliver programs to promote healthy aging. The purpose of this project was to expand knowledge on healthy aging by exploring the perspectives of community-based practitioners working directly with older adults.
Methods: We purposively sampled community-based practitioners (n=12, including nurses, physician, social workers, and other community services professionals) working with older adults, who then participated in one of three in-depth focus group discussions conducted between March and June 2016. Each focus group discussion lasted for about two hours. Verbatim transcript data were analyzed in Atlas.ti 7 using a conventional content analysis with an inductive approach, and consensual validation of coding was achieved.
Results: Three core categories of healthy aging were identified: (1) characteristics of healthy aging; (2) healthy aging attainment; and (3) programs and activities for healthy aging. Practitioners identified a number of characteristics of healthy aging under person-specific (physiological, basic, psych-emotional, and cognitive needs), social aspects (creating community and contributing to the community), and spiritual dimensions (cultural views and beliefs) of healthy aging. Healthy aging attainment was represented as facilitators and barriers both with respect to care recipients and care providers, and programs and activities through promoting fitness and wellness.
Conclusions: The rapidly changing demographics and aging population in the United States and their various needs suggest the implications for recognizing opportunities and developing and implementing programs to promote healthy aging. Although practitioners’ perspectives had some overlap with traditional research and medical views on healthy aging, the unique and holistic conceptual framework derived in the study might provide a more refined foundation for delivering appropriate health care services to the American aging population.
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