Why is healthy aging important?

Healthy aging is important because it increases the likelihood that older adults will stay healthy and active in their senior years. It helps prevent or manage common health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and falls, and can also reduce healthcare needs and costs.

What are some practical tips for healthy aging?

Practical tips include maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular low-impact exercise, maintaining mental health through social interaction and brain-stimulating games, and preventing falls by exercising to improve balance and eliminating tripping hazards at home.

Healthy Aging Month | Preventative Diagnostic Center

Healthy Aging Month is when the U.S. promotes awareness of how to stay healthy as we age. Government agencies and health organizations share the benefits of mental and physical health for older adults, as well as ways to stay healthy.

September is a month with an emphasis on health, which makes it an ideal month for the U.S. to observe Healthy Aging Month. Let’s explore why healthy aging is significant and how older adults can stay healthy.

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The Importance of Healthy Aging

As of 2020, one out of every six people in the U.S. was over 64. There is a greater chance that older adults will develop one or more of the following health issues:

Alzheimer’s
Arthritis
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Heart disease
High cholesterol
Hypertension
Obesity

Falls are another health risk for older adults, and the leading cause of death from injuries among adults ages 65 and older.

Falls and Mortality

Fall-related hospitalizations and deaths:
- 300,000 hospitalizations per year in the U.S. from falls
- For individuals over 60 with femur fractures, 10–30% one-year mortality
- Most will never return to baseline mobility
Death rates from falls by age group (per 100,000 people):

Figure 4. Deaths from falls by age (from cdc, data from 1999-2016)these statistics reveal an exponential mortality curve tied to falls—highlighting the critical role of maintaining strength and balance with age.

Healthy aging increases the likelihood that older adults will stay healthy in their senior years and be able to enjoy many of the activities they’ve enjoyed throughout their lifetime. High healthcare costs can prevent some older adults from receiving treatment for health issues. Staying healthy can help them reduce their healthcare needs and costs.

Practical Tips for Healthy Aging

Today, 30% of adults 65 or older are obese. Obesity increases the risk of developing asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and some types of cancer. Obesity can also exacerbate symptoms of arthritis and COPD, and cause depression. Consequently, many of the most common health issues affecting seniors can be prevented or managed through weight maintenance.

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Ways older adults can help maintain a healthy weight include the following:

Eat healthy foods: Maintain a balanced diet with the nutrients you need.
Exercise: If you haven’t been exercising regularly for some time, start with low-impact exercises, such as walking or doing chair yoga.
Stay active: Look for small ways to increase your steps daily and choose activities that involve movement. For example, instead of going to a movie with friends, you could go mini golfing or play mini bowling.

Tips for Maintaining Your Mental Health as You Age

Older adults may suffer from depression for multiple reasons, including loneliness and isolation. Older adults can maintain their mental health by maintaining friendships and seeking opportunities for social interaction.

Older adults can also promote good brain health by playing games. Spending time at a local senior center is an excellent way to enjoy games and social interaction.

Tips for Preventing Falls

Exercising strengthens your bones and muscles, thereby improving your balance. Good balance can help you prevent falls.

Additionally, eliminating clutter reduces tripping hazards. Also, good lighting can help you stay safe as you move throughout your home because you will be able to see and avoid obstacles that could cause a fall.

Verify Your Health Status

Investing in preventative healthcare is an effective way to verify your health status. With a low-dose CT scan, you can find out if you have warning signs for heart disease or cancer. A CT scan can give you peace of mind by confirming you’re healthy or allow for an early diagnosis that enables you to address health issues early.

Take Action This September

You can participate in Healthy Aging Month by setting health-related goals you work toward in September. You and your friends may meet a daily step goal or try new recipes featuring healthy foods.

You can also use online resources to discover ways to observe Healthy Aging Month and promote healthy aging year-round. Check with your local library and senior center as they may offer free healthy aging program events.

Celebrate Healthy Aging Month This September

Healthy Aging Month is an essential reminder of the benefits of prioritizing healthy aging. You will be able to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and can prevent or reduce the impact of many severe health issues affecting older adults today.

Celebrate Healthy Aging Month with simple dietary changes, such as eating fruits and vegetables, opting for lean meats, and avoiding sugary drinks. You can also celebrate by exercising, enjoying social outings with friends, and investing in preventative healthcare.