Experiences of older adults in the Viviendo Plenamente educational  program at a health center in Guayaquil

Marcia Melendez Espinoza; Carlos David Sánchez Castro; Mayra Bajaña Pinela; Sandy Belem Ortiz Menéndez; Merlyn Cecibel Villegas Ligua

doi:10.56200/mentor.v5i4.13383

Authors

Marcia Melendez Espinoza Universidad Tecnica Estatal de Quevedo. Quevedo-Ecuador
Carlos David Sánchez Castro Investigador Independiente. Guayaquil-Ecuador
Mayra Bajaña Pinela Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil. Guayaquil-Ecuador
Sandy Belem Ortiz Menéndez Centro de Especialidades Daule IESS. Daule-Ecuador
Merlyn Cecibel Villegas Ligua Investigador Independiente. Guayaquil-Ecuador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i4.13383

Keywords:

older adults, education, satisfaction, health

Abstract

Population ageing increased the need to develop educational programs that promote autonomy, self-care, social participation, and well-being among older adults. The study aimed to analyze the experiences of participants in the Viviendo Plenamente educational program, implemented at a Type C health center in Guayaquil. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Records and responses from a satisfaction survey administered to 13 women aged 65 to 86 years were analyzed. The data were processed using frequencies, percentages, and descriptive statistics. The results showed favorable assessments of the activities, the staff’s treatment and support, the provision of materials, and the fulfillment of participants’ expectations. Social interaction was one of the most highly valued aspects, whereas the limited size of the physical space was identified as the main difficulty. It was concluded that the program achieved a high level of acceptance and fostered meaningful educational and social experiences. Its continuation should preserve close staff support and group activities, while improving the physical conditions and extending the evaluation to a more diverse population.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Marcia Melendez Espinoza, Universidad Tecnica Estatal de Quevedo. Quevedo-Ecuador

Universidad Tecnica Estatal de Quevedo. Quevedo-Ecuador

Carlos David Sánchez Castro , Investigador Independiente. Guayaquil-Ecuador

Investigador Independiente. Guayaquil-Ecuador

Mayra Bajaña Pinela , Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil. Guayaquil-Ecuador

Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil. Guayaquil-Ecuador

Sandy Belem Ortiz Menéndez , Centro de Especialidades Daule IESS. Daule-Ecuador

Centro de Especialidades Daule IESS. Daule-Ecuador

Merlyn Cecibel Villegas Ligua, Investigador Independiente. Guayaquil-Ecuador

Investigador Independiente. Guayaquil-Ecuador

References

Alvarado García, A. M., & Salazar Maya, Á. M. (2014). Análisis del concepto de envejecimiento. Gerokomos, 25(2), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.4321/S1134-928X2014000200002

Castillo Riquelme, V., Cifuentes Aguayo, E., Órdenes Órdenes, D., & Gatica Parra, J. (2023). Depresión y aislamiento social en personas mayores, análisis del rol de la participación tecnológica. Revista de Investigación En Psicología, 26(1), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.15381/rinvp.v26i1.24798

Cotonieto-Martínez, E., & Rodríguez-Terán, R. (2021). Salud comunitaria: Una revisión de los pilares, enfoques, instrumentos de intervención y su integración con la atención primaria. Journal of Negative and No Positive Results, 6(2), 393–410. https://doi.org/10.19230/jonnpr.3816

Creswell, J., & Creswell, D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.

Dierckx, E., Duppen, D., Hoens, S., Switsers, L., Smetcoren, A.-S., De Donder, L., & D-Scope. (2022). Effectiveness, satisfaction and meaningfulness of a 6-step detection and prevention program for frail community-dwelling older adults: A mixed-method evaluation. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 966. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03504-7

Duran-Badillo, T., Salazar-Barajas, M. E., Hernández-Cortés, P. L., Guevara-Valtier, M. C., & Gutiérrez-Sánchez, G. (2020). Función sensorial y dependencia en adultos mayores con enfermedad crónica. SANUS, (15), 1. https://doi.org/10.36789/sanus.vi15.178

Franke, T., Sims-Gould, J., Nettlefold, L., Ottoni, C., & McKay, H. A. (2021). “It makes me feel not so alone”: Features of the Choose to Move physical activity intervention that reduce loneliness in older adults. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 312. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10363-1

Hoang, P., King, J. A., Moore, S., Moore, K., Reich, K., Sidhu, H., Tan, C. V., Whaley, C., & McMillan, J. (2022). Interventions Associated With Reduced Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 5(10), e2236676. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.36676

Larrea Naranjo, J. D. L., & Viñán Carrera, J. A. (2024). La transición demográfica y el envejecimiento poblacional: Futuros retos para la política de salud en el Ecuador. Visionario Digital, 8(4), 72–95. https://doi.org/10.33262/visionariodigital.v8i4.3263

Liao, L., Feng, M., You, Y., Chen, Y., Guan, C., & Liu, Y. (2023). Experiences of older people, healthcare providers and caregivers on implementing person-centered care for community-dwelling older people: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1), 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-03915-0

Marshall, N., Butler, M., Lambert, V., Timon, C. M., Joyce, D., & Warters, A. (2025). Health literacy interventions and health literacy-related outcomes for older adults: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 319. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12457-7

Martínez Sánchez, L. M., Hernández-Sarmiento, J. M., Jaramillo-Jaramillo, L. I., Villegas-Alzate, J. D., Álvarez-Hernández, L. F., Roldan-Tabares, M. D., Ruiz-Mejía, C., Calle-Estrada, M. C., & Ospina-Jiménez, M. C. (2020). La educación en salud como una importante estrategia de promoción y prevención: Health education as an important promotion and prevention strategy. Archivos de Medicina (Manizales), 20(2), 490–504. https://doi.org/10.30554/archmed.20.2.3487.2020

Nettlefold, L., Macdonald, H. M., Sims Gould, J., Bauman, A., Szewczyk, Z., & McKay, H. A. (2024). Does optimizing Choose to Move – a health-promoting program for older adults – enhance scalability, program implementation and effectiveness? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21(1), 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01649-9

Rubio, E., Comín, M., Montón, G., Martínez, T., Magallón, R., & García-Campayo, J. (2013). Determinantes de la capacidad funcional en personas mayores según el género. Gerokomos, 24(2), 69–73. https://doi.org/10.4321/S1134-928X2013000200004

Sandlund, M., Pohl, P., Ahlgren, C., Skelton, D. A., Melander-Wikman, A., Bergvall-Kåreborn, B., & Lundin-Olsson, L. (2018). Gender Perspective on Older People’s Exercise Preferences and Motivators in the Context of Falls Prevention: A Qualitative Study. BioMed Research International, 2018, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6865156

Saraiva Aguiar, R., & Salmazo Da Silva, H. (2022). Qualidade da atenção à saúde do idoso atenção primária: Uma revisão integrativa. Enfermería Global, 21(1), 545–589. https://doi.org/10.6018/eglobal.444591

Song, Y., Wang, Y., Zhou, M., Suo, Z., Wang, X., Li, C., Feng, X., Cheng, J., & Yu, H. (2024). Association between the perceived built environment and health behaviors in older adults: A cross-sectional study from Beijing, China. BMC Geriatrics, 24(1), 692. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05285-7