Preparing for the boom! Meeting the health promotion needs of older adults and aging “boomers” in rural communities

Increasingly older adults are “aging in place” and remaining in their home community. Healthcare and oral health needs will be addressed by both current and the upcoming workforce of healthcare providers. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare cohorts of a healthcare workforce's perceptions to health promotion activities needs for an aging population to those of adult “boomers” living in rural communities. METHODS: A needs assessment was carried out to help formulate an area plan using 29 Likert-scale items. Respondents (n=112) were social service providers working in the rural Midwest, or adults “Boomers” (n=256). An instrument utilizing a four (4) point Likert scale for specific service needs and a demographic section was used in the process. Screening items included oral health, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and mental vitality. RESULTS: Both cohorts of students and aging boomers were more likely to view oral health prevention as important when compared to current providers in the workforce (p<.05). DH students and aging boomers were more likely to see oral health and blood pressure screenings as being important as compared to SW students (p<.05). All areas of health promotion were more important to aging boomers than by providers (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Educational efforts need to target current providers to address health promotion screenings and to stress the role they play with one's overall health in geriatrics. Specific strategies will be addressed as part of the curriculum's advocacy training for the preparation of the future public health workforce working in rural settings.