Overall, evaluation of the theoretical knowledge base from a variety of fields including health care, epidemiology, education, business, and human resources suggests that the older adults and people with reduced physical activity face specific physical and social risks and thus, health promotion strategy for them should address these risks.
Introduction
Life Course Theory implements to the concept of health promotion for the aging population and the population with reduced physical activity in multiple terrains. With regards to the focus of this discussion, the aspects of the health care professionals training and health systems development will be addressed in detail. Overall, evaluation of the theoretical knowledge base from a variety of fields including health care, epidemiology, education, business, and human resources suggests that the older adults and people with reduced physical activity face specific physical and social risks and thus, health promotion strategy for them should address these risks.
Main body
According to Life Course Theory, at different stages in the life course, people need specific interventions aiming to maintain their health capital and control the disease processes (Nickitas, Middaugh, & Aries, 2011). When it comes to the health care professionals training and health care systems development, this theory suggests that the timing variable becomes important (Nickitas et al., 2011). In other words, health care professionals need to organize their activity with reflection on the stage of life their clients are at currently.
During this course, the elderly population and the population vulnerable to the problem of the reduced activity came into the writer’s focus of interest. Application of Life Course Theory to these groups provides a number of insights into the heath promotion concepts. First of all, this theory helps in the development of a life course model that will help reduce risks that these people face. It also suggests the theoretical dimensions for the provision of education both to the health care personnel working with the category of the population under consideration and to the representatives of this vulnerable category themselves (Sniehotta et l., 2011).
The main practical application of Life Course Theory for the health promotion in the above-identified category of population is identifications of physical and social hazards that affect the health condition of these people. Organization of the health promotion for the elderly people and people with reduced physical activity requires tackling such risks as the elevated risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, neurological disorders, mental disorders, and problems of the musculoskeletal system to name just a few. The existing body of evidence suggests that all the risk identified above become even more significant in the population with reduced physical activity. Life Course Theory also indicates that the older adults and people with inactive lifestyle are vulnerable to increased social risks affecting their health condition. Generally, these risks amount to reduced communication with the community members and the major depression that may occur due to the lack of socialization (Moffat, 2011).
Therefore, it is highly important for the health care professionals when they develop care strategies for the older adults and people with the low level of activity to include physical activity into essential preventive measures (Sniehotta et l., 2011). Sniehotta et l. (2011) found that social risks can be also reduced with the help of physical activity. Thus, the health care professionals should construct their intervention plans for the given group with the increased awareness of physical activity importance in mind because it is a sure way to achieve better operational performance while working with the elderly patients and patients with reduced physical activity (Wheelen, Hunger, Hoffman, & Bamford, 2015).
Conclusion
In summation, Life Course Theory suggests the theoretic framework well applicable for the health promotion measures in the elderly population and people with the reduced physical activity. Its major suggestion for the identified category of population health promotion is the need to reduce the hypodynamia risks.
References
Moffat, C.T. (2011). Helping those in need: Human service workers. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 55(3), 22-32.
Nickitas, D., Middaugh, D., & Aries, N. (2011). Policy and Politics for Nurses and other Health Professionals: Advocacy and Action. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sniehotta, F. F., Gellert, P., Witham, M. D., Donnan, P. T., Crombie, I. K., & McMurdo, M. E. T. (2013). Psychological theory in an interdisciplinary context: Psychological, demographic, health-related, social, and environmental correlates of physical activity in a representative cohort of community-dwelling older adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(1), 106-124.
Wheelen, T.L., Hunger, J.D., Hoffman, A.N., & Bamford, C.E. (2015). Strategic management and business policy (global edition), 14th Edition. London: Pearson Education.