Anna Nivestam

My research will focus on both older persons’ perspectives and society’s perspectives in order to investigate different aspects of health promotion in preventive home visits. I am registered as a doctoral student at Lund University and am also affiliated to the research group Active and Healthy Ageing in Lund. Furthermore I am affiliated to the graduate school SWEAH Swedish National Graduate School for Competitive Science on Ageing and Health. Previously I worked as a nurse in municipal healthcare, and I also have a master’s degree in Public Health from Lund University.

Good health in old age – health promoting and preventive home visits

The older population is increasing all over the world, resulting in challenges at both individual and societal level. Older persons can experiences physical, mental and social challenges. Society may encounter challenges in the form of increased healthcare costs, as well as future strategic planning that require adaptation to meet the needs of older persons. Thus, we can also choose to see older persons’ qualities and resources as an asset. They can, for example, contribute to the development of society with their experience and knowledge.

Good health can, however, be a precondition for a desire and ability to contribute to society. We therefore need to create conditions for good health among older persons. Through an integrated approach that involves both the society and the person, it may perhaps be possible to maintain or improve health among older persons. 

One way of preventing ill health and promoting health among older persons is to offer preventive home visits. In the Pre-H project seven municipalities in north-east Skåne are involved and older persons are offered preventive home visits according to a jointly made model. I hope that my doctoral thesis will contribute to the development of this model and provide inspiration for health interventions focused on health promotion targeting older persons need.