September is National Healthy Aging Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines healthy aging as “the process of maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older.” Now is the perfect time to look at your health and see whether you are living a life that can carry you into elderhood.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) states, “Healthy aging doesn’t start at a certain age or life stage — it’s a gradual, lifelong process.” Habits that you have in your twenties can easily catch up to you as you age and make aging harder than it should be. You have one body for your time on earth, and it is important to take care of it no matter your age.
The healthy aging research being done at ODPHP is grounded in the following:
Economic stability, social and community context, education access and quality, health care access and quality, and neighborhood and built environment all impact your health, well-being, and quality of life. These conditions also affect your chances of aging in good health.
The number of older adults in the United States grows every year. In 2020, people 65 and older made up 17% of the population. By 2040, that number is expected to grow to 22%. With more people needing health care services and caregivers, this can affect the overall population.
The ODPHP recommends that people stay active in any way they can, eat a diet of whole, nutrient-dense foods, reduce their risk of falling, and stay engaged in their health care to age healthily.
How AFSPA Can Help
As part of AFSPA’s commitment to providing Better Tools for Better Health, the Senior Living Foundation (SLF), a charitable organization sponsored by AFSPA, launched Next Chapter Conversations: A Quarterly Compass – a series designed to provide information, resources, and meaningful conversations to help individuals and families navigate the many stages of aging.
Each quarter, Next Chapter Conversations explores a topic that can help you prepare for what’s ahead, whether you are thinking about your own future or supporting someone you love.
Our second quarter theme, Healthy Aging, explored ways to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being as we grow older. To close out the quarter, AFSPA CEO, Kyle Longton, interviewed Dr. Ali Khan, the Chief Medical Officer of Medicare at Aetna, about healthy aging and preparing for elderhood. Watch the Healthy Aging conversation here to hear practical insights on taking care of your health today while preparing for the years ahead.
Join our Next Conversation: Caregiving
This quarter, Next Chapter Conversations turns its focus to Caregiving, a role that many of us may experience at some point in our lives, whether caring for a parent, spouse, family member, friend, or loved one.
On September 23 at 2:00-3:00 PM ET, join us for a live discussion featuring two caregiving experts. Kyle will be joined by Joan Parrish, SLF’s social work consultant, and Heather Suri, founder and CEO of Pathways in Aging, a care management firm operating in Northern Virginia, to answer your questions. Together, they will discuss the caregiving journey, share helpful guidance and resources, and answer questions from the community.
Have a caregiving question you would like our panelists to address? Submit your questions in advance here.
Stay Connected
The conversation doesn’t end when the live event does. Throughout each quarter, SLF shares resources and information to help you continue learning, preparing, and connecting with others.
Join the Next Chapter Conversations Facebook group to be part of the community and subscribe to SLF’s YouTube channel to watch conversations and access additional resources.
