Home
» Daily
News
Feb.
18 - Keeping Active Whilst Aging Curbs Health Care Costs
Group Health seniors are not only sweating to the oldies
in local health clubs. They are also keeping health care costs
down, according to a study by researchers at Group Health
and the University of Washington (UW). The study appears in
the January 2008 issue of the journal Preventing
Chronic Disease.
The research found long-term total health care costs grew
more slowly for older Group Health patients who regularly
used their "SilverSneakers" health club benefit.
Group Health members age 65 and older can choose either or
both of two activity programs: EnhanceFitness®; or SilverSneakers,
which includes access to a health club and free physical activity
classes geared to seniors' needs.
"Physical activity can help seniors improve their balance
to prevent falls; boost cardiovascular health to prevent heart
attacks; and improve overall metabolism to help delay diabetes
onset and complication of diabetes," said study co-author
Dr. James LoGerfo, a professor of medicine and health services
at the UW and an affiliate investigator at the Group Health
Center for Health Studies.
The researchers studied nearly 5,000 senior Group Health
patients who participated in SilverSneakers. More than 9,000
control patients were matched to participants by age and sex.
By year two, compared with control participants, SilverSneakers
participants had significantly fewer inpatient admissions
and lower total health care costs.
Dr. Huong Q. Nguyen, assistant professor of biobehavioral
nursing systems at the UW, is the study's lead author. She
stresses the important takeaway from this study is for older
adults, especially on fixed incomes, to remain active and
incorporate physical activity in their lives for many reasons,
including cutting down on unexpected health care costs. The
other important message is for health plans that offer such
physical activity benefits to have mechanisms in place that
support wide adoption and consistent use by senior members.
Source: Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies
(View
the Daily News Archive)
|
