Abstract
Background: Of almost 5.7 million Americans with heart failure, 80% are 65 years and older. Empowerment approaches facilitating recognition of personal and social contextual resources may improve well-being in this vulnerable population.
Objective: This research evaluated the feasibility of the Health Empowerment Intervention (HEI) in older adults with heart failure, including effects on health empowerment, purposeful participation, self-management, functional health, and well-being.
Methods: Twenty older adults with heart failure were randomly assigned to HEI or Attention Control conditions. The HEI consisted of 6 weekly sessions based on the Health Empowerment Theory. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 6 weeks.
Results: Feasibility of the HEI was supported; participants realized significant improvement in health empowerment and purposeful participation in goal attainment.
Conclusions
This research supports the feasibility of the HEI and provides a basis for continued evaluation.