A Proactive Approach to Aging Well for Women Over 45

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on an exploratory two-group, pre- and posttest design study, which employed data triangulation with a convenience sample (n = 120) of women over 45 years aged between 45 and 83 years, living and/or working within the South East Sydney and Illawarra areas of New South Wales. Sixty-nine women recorded the Health Check Log (HCL) (33 were health professionals) to assess and monitor their health over 12 months. The majority found the HCL greatly assisted in monitoring and maintaining their health, and the analyses of the SF-36 health survey suggest that women 45 years and over may benefit by regular use of the HCL.

KEYWORDS:

• aging well
• self-reported health
• health maintenance
• health monitoring
• health check log

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Council for The Ageing (COTA) NSW for partnership with the Health & Ageing Research Unit, a facility of South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service, in conducting the study from funding received from the Office for Women NSW Premier's Department to extend the study for women 45 years and over. We extend a special thank you to the participants and volunteer research assistants.