[Health promotions interventions designed and implemented in aged people over 65 years: a systematic review]. / Promoción de la salud en ancianos. Intervenciones en personas mayors de 65 años.

BACKGROUND: To systematically review the scientific literature indexed in major databases of health sciences, about the activities or health programs, applied to persons over 65 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Selecting scientific literature databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, and LILACS. Descriptors used (MeSH): Health Promotion and Aging. RESULTS: 378 articles were retrieved after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected for review 28 arti- cles, of which nine randomized trials. Actions or programs implemented were: implementation and creation of scales and instruments, physical activity and education, assessment and home care, oral health, analysis of activities and strategies, vaccination and leisure and recreational activities. Made in homes, private or public institutions, residences and outdoors. U.S. stands out with 13 of the 28 interventions studied. CONCLUSIONS: There is increased interest in the study of health promotion activities for elderly people in Anglo-Saxon countries and awakening the same in Latin America. The implementation of the programs proved effective in encoura- ging changes in lifestyle and produce improvement in physical condition and maintenance of autonomy. Situation is not yet proven in home care. Subsequent monitoring showed improvement on health, but over the effect of intervention decreases. There is need to focus attention and efforts on specific groups at risk of social exclusion.