These important client observations encouraged us to implement a research program to collect data on the impact of our programs. In a collaborative effort, Third Age Outreach Program, St. Joseph's Health Centre and the Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario received approval from the Review Board for Health Sciences Research to conduct a three-year research study. The objective is to evaluate our community-based health promotion programs for seniors from a quality of life point of view. Evaluation of short and long-term results are necessary to measure program effectiveness. Researchers recognize the importance of assessing interventions individuals' perceptions of the impact on their quality of life.
Quality of life is multidimensional and encompasses physical, mental and social well-being.
Most of the literature is focussed on the effects of specific illnesses or disease. What remains relatively unexplored are ways of improving the quality of life in the general population. Our program does offer programs to improve well-being in the general senior population, and we intend to collect evidence to demonstrate this. Our community-based health promotion programs will then be able to respond effectively to the changes in health care delivery as Canada's population continues to age. Our first step is to gather information on which programs have the greatest impact on quality of life.