September is Healthy Aging Month
As we age, health becomes more important. Thanks to improvements in medicine and health, we live longer lives now. As such, it’s even more important than ever before to develop healthy habits as we get older.
Why is September Healthy Aging Month?
September is a perfect time to celebrate Healthy Aging Month since it is time when many people think about getting started on new tasks after the summer. Drawing on the “back to school” urge embedded in everyone from childhood, the observance month’s activities are designed to encourage people to rejuvenate and get going on positive measures that can impact the areas of physical, social, financial and mental wellness.
People aged 60+ are projected to outnumber children under age five globally.
According to the Administration for Community Living‘s 2019 Profile of Older Americans, The 65+ population in the US has risen 35% over the past ten years and is projected to rise an additional 45% by 2060.
A longer life brings with it opportunities, not only for older people and their families, but also for societies as a whole. Additional years provide the chance to pursue new activities such as further education, a new career or pursuing a long neglected passion. Older people also contribute in many ways to their families and communities. Yet the extent of these opportunities and contributions depends heavily on one factor: health.
Tips For Healthy Aging Month:
It’s never too late to take a proactive, positive approach to aging. This September, make it a priority to plan your approach and take the necessary steps toward creating and maintaining a healthy, vibrant lifestyle.
Start an Exercise Routine
Take a Class or Volunteer
Add Fiber to your Diet for Digestive and Heart Health
Try Cooking with New Herbs and Spices
Start Daily Walks to boost your Heart and Lungs
Improve Your Balance and Agility through Yoga or Tai Chi
Actively Exercise Your Memory through Games and Puzzles
Factors Influencing Healthy Aging
Although some of the variations in older people’s health are genetic, much is due to people’s physical and social environments – including their homes, neighborhoods, and communities, as well as their personal characteristics – such as their sex, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
These factors start to influence the aging process at an early stage. The environments that people live in as children – or even as developing fetuses – combined with their personal characteristics, have long-term effects on how they age.
Environments also have an important influence on the development and maintenance of healthy behaviors. Maintaining healthy behaviors throughout life, particularly eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and refraining from tobacco use all contribute to reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases and improving physical and mental capacity.
Supportive environments enable people to do what is important to them, despite losses in capacity. The availability of safe and accessible public buildings and transport, and environments that are easy to walk around are examples of supportive environments.
