Well for Life Evaluation
Highlights from the evaluation – phase one projects, November 2005

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Introduction

Well for Life is an innovative program that aims to improve nutrition and physical activity among frail older people, both at home and in residential aged care. To date Well for Life projects have been funded in Home and Community Care Planned Activity Groups (PAGs) and Public Sector Residential Aged Care (PSRAC) facilities . Well for Life seeks to address and encourage a health promoting culture by focusing on provider policy and practice. Through its emphasis on nutrition and physical activity Well for Life upholds the principles of the ‘Go for your life’ campaign.

Well for Life projects used a range of strategies to contact and engage a large number of participants and residents, (including many people with dementia); staff and to a lesser extent, carers. An array of drivers for, and barriers to implementation were identified, most of which were anticipated, given the cultural, organisational and target group context. The projects showed persistence and flexibility in dealing with challenges and achieved strong reach with the aged care workforce, participants and residents. In particular, participants with dementia had the opportunity to be involved and specific strategies were employed to optimise their participation and enjoyment. Support by management, commitment and enthusiasm by staff, and the enthusiasm of participants and residents were significant factors in achieving strong reach.

Evaluation of the projects suggests that Well for Life also has intangible benefits that are not easy to document. These benefits are around challenging prevailing stereotypes of what frail older people can do, and what improvements might be achieved in old age in health and enjoyment of daily life. This challenging of stereotypes is embedded in Well for Life principles and is expressed through simple changes in staff practices, and participation by residents and participants in physical activity and better nutrition. Changes in stereotypes may take many years to emerge, and the effectiveness of Well for Life at this stage of implementation may be as a catalyst for change and a springboard for those in aged care settings – management, staff and older people – who are already advocates of being ‘well for life’ regardless of age or impairment.

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Well for Life Evaluation - Highlights from the evaluation, November 2005 (1,964kb, pdf)

Hard copy of the evaluation is available by emailing Wendi Kruger (Wendi.Kruger@dhs.vic.gov.au)

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