A recent trend in health promotion is to involve seniors in planning programs designed to meet their needs. However, many seniors have been socialized to be passive recipients of health care services and may initially require confidence-building and skill development to enable them to take an active role in health promotion.
This paper outlines the field development of a self-advocacy program. The central purpose of the program is to assist seniors to speak up for what they need to maintain control of their health and their lives. Results support the effectiveness of the program model as a framework for (1) helping seniors take increased initiative and control (2) developing a cohesive support network and (3) providing input from seniors into program planning. Recommendations are made for future research and program development.