Active Aging Promotion: Results from the Vital Aging Program

Autor: Mariagiovanna Caprara, María Ángeles Molina, Rocío Schettini, Marta Santacreu, Teresa Orosa, Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez, Macarena Rojas, Rocío Fernández-Ballesteros
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2013
Předmět:
Zdroj: Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research, Vol 2013 (2013)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1687-7063
1687-7071
DOI: 10.1155/2013/817813
Popis: Active aging is one of the terms in the semantic network of aging well, together with others such as successful, productive, competent aging. All allude to the new paradigm in gerontology, whereby aging is considered from a positive perspective. Most authors in the field agree active aging is a multidimensional concept, embracing health, physical and cognitive fitness, positive affect and control, social relationships and engagement. This paper describes Vital Aging, an individual active aging promotion program implemented through three modalities: Life, Multimedia, and e-Learning. The program was developed on the basis of extensive evidence about individual determinants of active aging. The different versions of Vital Aging are described, and four evaluation studies (both formative and summative) are reported. Formative evaluation reflected participants’ satisfaction and expected changes; summative evaluations yielded some quite encouraging results using quasi-experimental designs: those who took part in the programs increased their physical exercise, significantly improved their diet, reported better memory, had better emotional balance, and enjoyed more cultural, intellectual, affective, and social activities than they did before the course, thus increasing their social relationships. These results are discussed in the context of the common literature within the field and, also, taking into account the limitations of the evaluations accomplished.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals