Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE)

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) is a curriculum-based health promotion program that aims to help older adults increase their knowledge and awareness of issues related to health and the aging process. Based on the health belief model of behavioral change, WISE provides older adults with the information and resources they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and become empowered in regard to both their health and the health care they receive. Program objectives include helping participants to (1) understand how lifestyle choices and behaviors impact health; (2) learn to use tools and feel empowered to manage health care, particularly regarding the use of medications; (3) understand the aging process and how it affects the metabolism of alcohol and medications; (4) develop an appreciation for cultural and generational diversity, including their own increasing age; and (5) recognize the early signs and symptoms of depression.

Goal / Mission

The WISE Program is a wellness and prevention program targeting older adults, which is designed to help them celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices and avoid substance abuse.

Results / Accomplishments

More than 84% of WISE Program participants made a behavior change within six weeks of beginning the WISE Program to promote a healthier lifestyle. Behavior changes included reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol, reducing or eliminating the use of tobacco products, using a pill box to organize medication, improving their diet, and exercising or increasing their amount of exercise.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
NJ Prevention Network
Primary Contact
Diane Litterer, CEO & Executive Director
NJ Prevention Network
30 Park Rd, Suite 2
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
732-367-0611
dianelitterer@njpn.org
https://www.njpn.org/about
Topics
Health
Education
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
NJ Prevention Network
Location
New Jersey
For more details
https://www.njpn.org/wise
Target Audience
Older Adults

Related Promising Practices

  1. Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
  2. Healthy Steps for Older Adults (HSOA)
  3. BRI Care Consultation
  4. Healthy Moves
  5. Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral (TCARE)
  6. CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Interventions to Reduce Depression Among Older Adults: Clinic-Based Depression Care Management

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.