Purpose : The study was done to identify effects of health promotion education in improving health status by changing motivation and health behavior of elderly people in the community. It was done to provide a basis for planning community health promotion programs. Method : The participants were 35 elderly people in the experiment group and 18 in the control group. Data were collected from June 30 to November 21, 2003. Descriptive statistics, χ²-test, t-test, and ANCOVA were used for data analysis with the SPSS PC window version program. Result : According to pretest scores, self efficacy, exercise and stress management in experiment group were significantly lower than those in control group, but there were no significant differences for perceived benefits, barrier, emotional salience, self responsibility, diet and stopping smoking. The post-test scores, when covariate variables like age, self-efficacy, exercise, and stress management, were controlled, showed that there were no differences between the experiment and control groups for motivation and health behavior except for stress management. Conclusion : Elderly people who did health promotion behavior by themselves had higher self efficacy, exercise and stress management than those in the education program. But after the education programs there were no differences between the two groups for motivation and health behavior. Therefore lifelong programs for health promotion for elderly people are needed so that education programs can enhance motivation.