Health promotion in later life: it's never too late.

The clinical and epidemiological rationale for the health improvement benefits of health promotion in the later years of life are provided in this article. The authors review the emerging scientific consensus concerning the utility of lifestyle interventions for health improvement in the context of a narrowed definition of health promotion. Governmental initiatives for testing health promotion among Medicare beneficiaries are also discussed. Major research findings are reviewed and implications for health promotion practioners are also provided.