Community-based health coaching, exercise, and health service utilization

Objectives: The outcomes of the California Public Employees Retirement System's Health Matters program, a replication of a health promotion and fitness program known as the Senior Wellness Program (SWP), are reported. Method: A randomized controlled design (n = 504) was used. Eligibility included one or more qualifying chronic health conditions, age 65 or older, member of a participating health plan, and owner of a CalPERS long-term care insurance policy. Disability risk factors were measured via questionnaires and included health status, pain, exercise, depression, and social activity. Activity was compiled in project records. Results: At 12 months, Health Matters members were engaged in significantly more stretching and aerobic exercise than the controls. Depressive symptoms decreased among those with moderate or higher symptom scores. Discussion: Health Matters extends the SWP model to younger, more active, and healthier individuals with improvements in duration of exercise and stretching; use of other health promotion activities was low.