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Senior Health
Poor health and loss of independence are not inevitable consequences of aging. The following strategies have proven effective in improving the health of older adults:
- Healthy lifestyles. Research has shown that healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking, are more influential than genetic factors in helping older people avoid the deterioration traditionally associated with aging.
- Early detection of diseases. Screening to detect chronic diseases early in their course, when they are most treatable, can save lives; however, many older adults have not had all of the recommended screenings covered by Medicare.Immunizations. About 36,000 people aged 65 or older die each year of influenza and invasive pnemoccocal disease. Immunizations can reduce a person’s risk for hospitalization and death from these diseases.
- Injury prevention. Falls are the most common cause of injuries to older adults. More than one-third of adults aged 65 or older fall each year, and of those who fall, 20%–30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that decrease mobility and independence.
- Self-management techniques. Programs to teach older adults self-management techniques can reduce both the pain and costs of chronic disease. For example, people with arthritis can learn practical skills such as how to manage their pain, how to deal with fatigue and stress, and how to develop a personal exercise program.
To read more from the Healthy Aging report of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, please click here: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/aag/aag_aging.htm
Please also check
the information in our Aging category: http://www2.umdnj.edu/hnjweb/health-wellness/aging/aging.html
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