You're not just getting older: You're getting better

Approximately 13.1% of the population in the US is over the age of 65, and experts suggest that it will triple by the year 2050. Diabetes and its complications are among the leading causes of death and disability among older adults. Prevention is the key and is related to a healthy diet, adequate physical activity (PA), and access to health care. To best inform program development, graduate students conducted a targeted needs assessment with residents and management at Vintage Kendall in San Bernardino, CA. Data were collected through windshield surveys, observations, literature reviews, eight theory-based key informant interviews, and a confirmatory focus group. Data were coded, themed and analyzed using Grounded Theory methods. Emerging themes revealed residents shared a lack of knowledge about diabetes, lacked appealing and affordable meal alternatives, lacked adaptive PA opportunities stemming from leading a solitary lifestyle that comes with age and a fear of falling, and they lacked a supportive built environment whereby challenging their abilities to maintain a healthy lifestyle overall. They voiced a need for increase hand railings around the apartment complex, specifically around the pool area, earlier hours of operation for the exercise room, a regular exercise class, the dos and don'ts for diabetes prevention and management, low-cost healthy cooking classes, stress and money management classes, and how to container garden for more accessible and affordable fruits and vegetables. We then developed, implemented and evaluated a pilot program using process and impact evaluations for program improvement and sustainability.