Enhancing Life, Empowering Aging: Developing Holistic Resources for Older Adults and Care Teams
Anna Atma
Citations
Abstract
Background: As of 2024, adults aged 65 and older make up approximately 17% of the U.S. population—around 58 million individuals (Population Reference Bureau, 2024). Despite the growing body of evidence, many older adults hold misconceptions about the “normal” aging process and remain unaware of strategies to optimize their health (Diehl et al., 2020). According to Petrusevski et al. (2022), improving health literacy has the potential to positively impact health outcomes in older adults. Objective: This project aimed to develop holistic, evidence-based educational resources that empower older adults with greater autonomy and, in turn, improved quality of life (QoL). By also targeting information relevant to caregivers and healthcare professionals, the resources support more informed, collaborative care and better overall health outcomes for older adults (OAs). ACOTE Area: This capstone project is relevant for the ACOTE areas of: Program Development and Evaluation, and Advocacy. Methods: Resource development was guided by a synthesis of current evidence on aging and expert opinion of therapists working with older adults. The format of the resources was informed by a synthesis of literature findings on older adult learning strategies and accessible design principles. The resulting multi-modal educational tools available in video, print, and digital formats addressed four QoL-related topics: self-advocacy, sleep, socialization, and movement. Results: The materials developed for each topic included interactive elements to encourage older adult engagement, such as checklists, planners, self-reflection questions, and interest inventory. The resources provided evidence-based educational content tailored for older adults, and supplemental information for care teams and healthcare professionals. The topics were arranged digitally in Canva with printer-friendly design for handouts and presented with audio on YouTube. A presentation of the information by the capstone student was given with printed handouts to receive informal feedback from community-dwelling older adults. Responses were positive, with users describing the materials as clear, accessible, and informative. Feedback regarding novelty of information varied, as some informants appeared more familiar with the targeted topics compared to others. Conclusions and Relevance: By enhancing health literacy in these areas, the resources empower individuals to take an active role in their care, advocate for services, and navigate aging with greater autonomy. Ultimately, this project demonstrates that education promotes aging well and underscores occupational therapy’s essential role in supporting autonomy, resilience, and dignity in later life.
