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“We are encouraging Americans of all ages to live healthier
lives. Healthy living can prevent diseases and certain disabilities,
and it can ensure that today’s older persons – as
well as future generations – not only live longer, but also
better.”
-Josefina G. Carbonell
Great improvements in medicine, public health, science, and technology
have enabled today’s older Americans to live longer and
healthier lives than previous generations. Older adults want to
remain healthy and independent at home in their communities. Society
wants to minimize the health care and economic costs associated
with an increasing older population. The science of aging indicates
that chronic disease and disability are not inevitable. As a result,
health promotion and disease prevention activities and programs
are an increasing priority for older adults, their families, and
the health care system.
Many Americans fail to make the connection between undertaking
healthy behaviors today and the impact of these choices later
in life. Studies by the National Institute of Aging indicate that
healthy eating, physical activity, mental stimulation, not smoking,
active social engagement, moderate use of alcohol, maintaining
a safe environment, social support, and regular health care are
important in maintaining health and independence.
Promoting the healthy lifestyles of older people is vital in
helping them to maintain health and functional independence and
lead healthy and independent lives. Providing information to you
about disease prevention and health promotion activities will
help us help you and your loved ones become more knowledgeable
about the health problems you may face and how you can prevent,
delay, or manage them. We are using the Department’s report
called Healthy People as a framework for providing you with this
information. The report, originally published in 1979 and updated
throughout the past thirty years, identifies the most significant
preventable threats to health and focuses public and private sector
efforts to address those threats. The overarching goals of the
most recent update of the report, Healthy People 2010, include
increasing the quality and years
of healthy life and eliminating health disparities. Within the report
there are twenty-eight focus areas with goals and objectives within
each area.
The areas listed below are ones that we have chosen that relate
to the Department’s objectives and the health of older Americans.
The list below contains links to information that we feel you
and your loved ones need to be informed of in order to lead healthy
lives. We provide additional resources within each area that we
feel will be helpful to you. Please use the general health resources
below to access detailed health information on a variety of topics.
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