Back to a Healthy Society: Reconnecting Older People to Society for Healthy Lifestyle through a Peer-to-Peer Change Agent Approach in Local Communities

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COVID-19 has major influence on social inclusion and healthy lifestyle, with immense negative consequences related to older people’s physical and mental health. Now, many older people find it difficult to become active again, and to participate in social life on their own. Against this background, the Back to a Healthy Society project develops innovative mitigation approaches to (re)connect older people to society so that they improve and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. To reach this goal, our consortium of 8 partners from 6 countries plus 1 associated European network exploits a two-step activation process: We implement a peer-to-peer change agent approach that engages active older people in the development of their local communities. They are trained as local change agents for healthy lifestyle so that they can empower their peers, who have difficulties to (re)connect. We train them in a holistic concept of healthy lifestyle adapted to older people, together with methods to trigger behavioral change and activation. Plus, we provide our chance agents with experienced change mentors who we equip with the knowledge and skills needed to sustainably support them. To find support for implementing local activities, our change agents learn how to exploit a local community of practice approach in an active neighborhood setting in 4 European countries. This helps them to co-create applicable, innovative healthy lifestyle initiatives and to anchor them with local community stakeholders across sectors. As a result, our older change agents become true anchor points in social life. They are enabled to find creative ways to help their peers to (re)connect after COVID-19 and to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. From there, we widen our impact and reach out to neighboring communities, regions, and countries to raise awareness of our approaches. So that ultimately our project serves to co-create a more engaged, a healthier, and a more active legacy in the local communities of Europe.