September is observed as Healthy Aging Month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, emphasizing the importance of maintaining good health and vitality as we grow older. Aging is a natural part of life, and it brings with it unique challenges and opportunities. In this article, we’ll explore why older adults need to stay active, and strategies to promote healthy aging.
Who Are Older Adults?
Older adults, often referred to as seniors or senior citizens, are individuals typically aged 65 and older. This diverse group encompasses a wide range of experiences, abilities, and health statuses. Older adults are a vital part of our communities, contributing their wisdom and experiences to society.
About Healthy Aging
Healthy living is healthy aging. From infancy through later maturity, developing and maintaining good aging practices throughout the lifespan promotes increased resilience and possibilities for success as we age.
Healthy Aging work is grounded in research that demonstrates:
- Healthy aging begins early in life.
- Improving older adult health and well-being impacts all of society and individuals of all ages.
- Health disparities that are experienced earlier in life are often made worse later in life.
Why Older Adults Need to Stay Active.
Physical Health: As we age, our bodies undergo various changes, including a decrease in muscle mass and bone density. Regular physical activity helps mitigate these changes by promoting strength and flexibility, reducing the risk of falls and fractures.
Mental Well-being: Staying active is closely linked to mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which can improve mood, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhance cognitive function.
Chronic Disease Management: Physical activity plays a crucial role in managing and preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. It can help control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol.
Maintaining Independence: Being physically active helps older adults maintain their independence by ensuring they can perform daily activities without assistance for as long as possible.
Social Determinants of Health and Older Adults (SDOH)
SDOHs are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
Healthy People 2030 groups SDOH into 5 domains:
- Economic stability
- Social and community context
- Education access and quality
- Health care access and quality
- Neighborhood and built environment
SDOH have a major impact on our health, well-being, and quality of life — and SDOH significantly affect our chances of staying healthy as we age. For example:
- Older adults with lower incomes are more likely to have disabilities and die younger. In addition, disability is likely to start earlier in life for people with lower incomes — further raising the risk of early mortality.
- Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of dementia and other serious health problems in older adults, while positive social relationships can promote longer, healthier lives.
- Many older persons have trouble using forms and charts used in medicine, which can make it more difficult for them to make wise health decisions.
The physical and mental well-being of older persons also affects society more broadly. In 2020, 17% of the population consisted of individuals aged 65 or older. Projections anticipate this percentage will rise to 22% by 2040. This demographic shift drives an increased demand for medical services and a greater need for family and paid caregivers.
It also highlights the importance of approaching healthy aging from a lifelong perspective. Enhancing SDOH for diverse individuals benefits long-term health and wellbeing, with various stakeholders contributing to this goal.
Strategies for Promoting Healthy Aging
Regular Exercise: Encourage older adults to engage in regular physical activity, including activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or even gardening. Tailoring exercise to individual abilities is key.
Physical activity can help older adults prevent both chronic disease and fall-related injuries. That’s why older adults have always been a priority audience for the Move Your Way® campaign, which is the promotional campaign for the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Healthy Aging Events | health.gov
Social Connection: Loneliness and isolation can be detrimental to mental and physical health. Encourage older adults to maintain social connections with friends and family.
Mental Stimulation: Engaging in mentally stimulating activities like puzzles, reading, or learning new skills can help maintain cognitive function and prevent cognitive decline.
Regular Health Check-ups: Older adults should schedule regular check-ups with healthcare providers to monitor and manage chronic conditions and ensure overall well-being.
Medication Management: Older adults may be taking multiple medications, therefore It is crucial to manage medications properly, ensuring they understand how and when to take them and are aware of potential interactions.
Healthy Aging Resources
- Health and Wellness Tips for Older Adults and Caregivers on MyHealthfinder
- Older Adults and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Healthy Aging Events
In conclusion, Healthy Aging Month serves as a reminder that growing older doesn’t mean sacrificing health and well-being. Older adults are a valuable part of our society, and by promoting all that is required of them, we can help them age gracefully and enjoy a high quality of life for years to come.
