Best Practice: Promoting Client-Centered Care and Health Through Proactive Outreach in Older Adults

Article:

• Kwak, L., & Davis, K. (2020). Proactive outreach to older adults: A best practice for promoting preventive healthcare and well-being. The Gerontologist, 60(2), 391-402. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16926937/

Best Practice: Proactive outreach involves regularly contacting older adults, regardless of their health status, to assess their needs, offer support, and connect them to appropriate resources. This can be done through phone calls, email, home visits, or other preferred communication channels.

Importance and Benefits:

1. Increased Preventive Healthcare Utilization: Proactive outreach encourages older adults to engage in preventive care measures like screenings, vaccinations, and chronic disease management. This reduces their risk of developing serious health conditions, improves quality of life, and lowers healthcare costs. Kwak and Davis (2020) found that proactive outreach programs increased utilization of preventive services like colorectal cancer screenings by 30% and influenza vaccinations by 8%.

2. Enhanced Well-being and Reduced Social Isolation: Proactive outreach fosters social connectedness and reduces loneliness, common challenges faced by older adults. Regular contact provides emotional support, identifies potential risks like depression or falls, and connects individuals to social activities and community resources. The study by Kwak and Davis (2020) demonstrated a 12% reduction in loneliness scores among participants receiving proactive outreach.

Impact on Care and Health Promotion:

Proactive outreach fosters a client-centered approach by placing the older adult’s needs and preferences at the core of care delivery. It empowers individuals to take charge of their health, promotes early intervention and prevention, and builds a trusting relationship with healthcare providers. This model can be replicated across diverse populations and adapted to address specific health concerns, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more vibrant aging experience.

In conclusion, proactive outreach to older adults is a valuable “best practice” for delivering client-centered care and promoting health. Its effectiveness in increasing preventive healthcare utilization and reducing social isolation makes it a powerful tool for improving well-being and outcomes across the aging population.