September is Healthy Aging Month; an opportunity to focus attention on the positive aspects of growing older. The observance encourages local level events that provide inspiration and practical ideas for adults over the age of 50 to improve their physical, social, mental and financial health.
As an organization committed to quality health and healthcare of older adults, Great Plains Quality Innovation Network would like to use this observance as a reminder of the importance an active role in managing an individual’s health plays in overall health outcomes. As a healthcare provider, partner, community member, older adult, family member, loved one and/or caregiver, let Healthy Aging Month be a reminder for you to be an advocate and a supporter in helping our older adult population better understand the benefits of physical, social and mental abilities; the importance of taking an active role in his/her care; and the availability of resources and facilities in our local communities.
As part of Healthy Aging Month, we would like to share the following resources with you for use in your facilities and offices:
- The National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “Get Moving! Motivating the 50+ Community” tip sheet: http://go4life.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Motivating50+Community.pdf
- The National Institute on Aging at NIH “Help Your Staff Promote Physical Activity” tip sheet: http://go4life.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/EncouragingOfficeStaff.pdf
- The American Psychological Association (APA) “Older Adult’s Health and Age Related Changes: Reality Versus Myth” brochure: http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/older-adults.pdf
- The APA “Memory and Aging” fact sheet: http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/memory-and-aging.pdf
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aging resources available at: http://www.cdc.gov/aging/
- CDC Healthy Aging podcasts available at: http://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/podcasts.htm
- National Institute on Aging at NIH, Go4Life resources available at: http://go4life.nia.nih.gov/
- Healthy Aging resources available at: http://www.healthyaging.net/