Opportunities and Challenges for Health-Promoting Interventions for Older Adults: A Focus Group Study with Professionals in Municipal Health and Social Care

Abstract Background An aging population and an ongoing transition toward person-centered and integrated care highlight the need for health-promoting interventions for older adults, requiring new approaches within municipal health and social care. Aim The aim of this study was to explore and describe how professionals in municipal health- and social care discuss opportunities and challenges within their organization related to health-promoting interventions directed at older adults. Material and Methods A qualitative focus group design was used. Twenty-two participants, including occupational therapists, development managers, area managers, operations managers, and case managers from seven municipalities, participated in five focus group discussions. Data were analyzed inductively using a focus group analysis approach. Results One overarching theme was identified: Creating organizational readiness for health-promoting interventions , comprising three subthemes: Supportive structures for health-promoting work within the organization are needed , A shared health-promoting focus and new collaborations are required , and New working methods are necessary to facilitate health promotion. These subthemes are interrelated together dynamically shape organizational readiness for health-promoting interventions. Conclusions and Significance Taken together, The results indicate that organizational readiness within municipal health and social care is currently insufficient for health-promoting interventions to permeate practice yet has inherent potential to be actively created. Creating such readiness therefore requires coordinated, long-term efforts across the organization. For occupational therapy, these results underscore the importance of engaging in ongoing dialogue, both within the profession and across organizational levels, on how their competencies can be utilized and translated from reactive into more proactive and health-promoting approaches into everyday practices.