WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTHY AGING FOR OLDER ADULTS
Christiane Tourtet B.A.
November 01, 2009
It is expected in the United States that by the year 2030 the proportion of the U.S population 65 years old and older will double to approximately 71 million older adults, that is, one in every five Americans. The U.S. is quite on the brink of a longevity revolution. The increasing number of older Americans and their growing diversity will have far-reaching implications,
which will include, unprecedented demands on aging services, public health, and the nation´s health care system.
Diseases that are chronic are a particularly heavy economic and health burden on older adults, due to diminished quality of life, associated long-term illness, and especially greatly increased health care costs. Even though the risk of disease and disability, increases clearly with advancing age, it is important to note that poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging.
Many illnesses, disabilities and death associated with chronic diseases, can be avoided through known prevention measures, such as practicing a healthy lifestyle, which includes, healthy eating, avoiding tobacco use, regular physical activity, using early detection practices, such as screening for cervical, breast, colorectal cancers, depression, diabetes and its complications.
There are still critical knowledge gaps that exist for responding to the health needs of older adults. In regard to chronic illnesses and conditions, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, urinary incontinence, much still remains to be learned, about their distribution in the population, and the associated risks factors, as well as effective preventive and delaying measures.
Resource:
Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).
© 2009 Christiane Tourtet .
which will include, unprecedented demands on aging services, public health, and the nation´s health care system.
Diseases that are chronic are a particularly heavy economic and health burden on older adults, due to diminished quality of life, associated long-term illness, and especially greatly increased health care costs. Even though the risk of disease and disability, increases clearly with advancing age, it is important to note that poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging.
Many illnesses, disabilities and death associated with chronic diseases, can be avoided through known prevention measures, such as practicing a healthy lifestyle, which includes, healthy eating, avoiding tobacco use, regular physical activity, using early detection practices, such as screening for cervical, breast, colorectal cancers, depression, diabetes and its complications.
There are still critical knowledge gaps that exist for responding to the health needs of older adults. In regard to chronic illnesses and conditions, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, depression, psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer´s disease, Parkinson´s disease, urinary incontinence, much still remains to be learned, about their distribution in the population, and the associated risks factors, as well as effective preventive and delaying measures.
Resource:
Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).
© 2009 Christiane Tourtet .
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