Health promotion in old age.

The empirical literature on health promotion in old age was reviewed. A developmental perspective was used to examine 42 studies: studies relating health behaviors to health outcomes, descriptive studies of health promotion in old age, studies of the outcomes of health promotion programs in old age, and studies of factors related to older adults' participation in health promotion activities. In general, elderly adults perceived health promotion activities as beneficial, engaged in health behaviors more frequently than younger adults, and participated in community-based and other health promotion programs. There is little definitive evidence that health promotion activities result in better health outcomes for older adults, however. Identifying appropriate outcomes related to health promotion in old age is a critical need.