Objective:

To determine changes in quality of life related to health and health empowerment in a group of elderly people by applying an educational program.

Method:

quasi-experimental study, in a group of 52 seniors. The quality of life related to health and health empowerment before and after the educational program related to noncommunicable diseases was evaluated, basing on methodological guidelines designed by the researchers, and applying it for eight weeks.

Results:

It was found that 38% of people had moderate cardiovascular risk, 33% high/extreme risk; 58% had hypertension, 20% diabetes mellitus type 2, and 8% reported dyslipidemia. In the quality of life related to health favorable changes were observed in the dimensions of social activities (p = 0.049), change in health status (p = 0.004), health status (p = 0.045), pain (p = 0,43) and total score of the COOP WONCA (p = 0.005). On changes in health empowerment, it was found statistical significance in the dimension “I know me enough to choose what is the best for my health” (p = 0.006).

Conclusions:

The results show that health education on chronic noncommunicable diseases improve the quality of life related to health and contribute to the empowerment of health in the elderly.

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