[Can empowerment of elderly with chronic disease be achieved in Switzerland? First results of the ALLFIT program in Zurich]. / Ist Empowerment chronisch kranker Betagter in der Schweiz möglich? Erste Resultate des Zürcher ALLFIT-Programms.

Self management courses can efficiently empower elderly with chronic disease. ALLFIT, a Swiss self management and fitness programme for seniors with chronic heart, lung, musculoskeletal or diabetic disease, consists of individual contracting and coaching by a Nurse, a weekly Fitness Training and 8 self management courses for 2 hours a week. Of the first 100 Participants, 99 defined contracts of goals and 80 achieved at least partially, 21% improved their physical fitness in walking and 25% in climbing stairs. Empowerment of elderly with chronic diseases can be achieved in Switzerland by a combination of fitness, self management training and individual coaching.