Progress towards Healthy Ageing in Europe: to promote active healthy lifestyles in 45-68 year olds through workplace, rather than traditional health-related settings
Abstract
Purpose
Progress towards Healthy Ageing in Europe has been a two-year European funded project led by Suffolk County Council Public Health and involving five European Union (EU) member nations. The purpose of this paper is to share the learning from the project as it relates to early preventative activity to promote healthy active ageing. The population of interest are those people in the mid-life age group of 45-68 years accessed via the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative research applying an online Health Manager tool and focus group discussions. Transnational work to learn from other EU countries about approaches to promote healthy active ageing.
Findings
A comprehensive account of all project findings is available via the following web site: www.progresshealthyageing.eu This paper outlines the findings from the UK regional activity of the application of an online Health Manager™ tool to employees from Suffolk in the 45-68 year age group.
Research limitations/implications
The research limitations related to smaller cohorts (ca. 1,000 participants) as opposed to large-scale surveys. The phenomenon of the “healthy worker effect” (Shah, 2009), may be a limitation as the population of interest in this age group were mainly employed and in paid employment. The healthy worker effect implies that those who are employed are already “healthier” due to being employed. The further limitation of the timescale for the intervention and project funding as a resource limitation precludes longer term follow-up and evidence collection to find out if behaviour change in participants has been sustained over time.
Social implications
The findings of the EU Project have contributed towards the Europe 2020 Strategy. Locally the findings from the project have supported Suffolk County Council's ambition to be the most active county in England. The findings have added momentum to local workplace health initiatives by providing a focus for the needs of the older workforce. Learning from the Project has also informed development of the Suffolk Workplace Challenge.
Originality/value
This paper provides a review on a European project, Progress towards Healthy Ageing in Europe.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This publication is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013). This programme is implemented by the European Commission. It was established to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment, social affairs and equal opportunities area, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Europe 2020 Strategy goals in these fields. The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-27, EFTA-EEA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries (for more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/progress). The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.
Citation
Anne Gibson, E. (2014), "Progress towards Healthy Ageing in Europe: to promote active healthy lifestyles in 45-68 year olds through workplace, rather than traditional health-related settings", Working with Older People, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 51-57. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-02-2014-0004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited