Did you know that the world population of adults 65 and older is growing faster than all other age groups? According to the United Nations (2018), for the first time in history, older adults outnumber kids under 5 years old worldwide. As unbelievable as that statistic is, the over 65 population is projected to grow dramatically — from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 2050. As we head into a new year and a new decade, learn to discern healthy aging fact from fiction to come together in collaborative action to improve the lives of the aging population.
Healthy aging depends on who you are, what you do, and where you live. FACT: Aging is more than genes. Healthy aging is dependent on several biological, psychological, and social factors working together over a lifetime. It's known that social determinants of health account for approximately 40 percent of health outcomes such as length of life and quality of those added years.
“While advances in medicine and clinical care are important, public health advances (e.g., banning indoor smoking, mandating seat belt usages, protecting workers' health) account for the 25 additional years of life expectancy over the last century. In fact, many people are unaware that the zip code where you live is now recognized as one of the most important health influencers,” says Marcia G. Ory, Ph.D., MPH, founder, and co-director of the Center for Population Health and Aging.
Falls are not a normal part of the aging process. FACT: Falls are not a normal part of aging, but the incidence of falls does increase with age. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that engaging in physical activity, getting eye and feet checkups, sharing falls-related concerns with health care providers, and making environments safer can help older adults prevent falls.
“Daily lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity, nutrition, and sleep quality can influence fall risk, and these are never too late to change,” says Matthew Lee Smith, Ph.D., MPH, CHES, FGSA, FAAHB, and co-director of the CPHA at the Texas A&M School of Public Health. “Interventions can be successful for people of all ages. Among the most important is physical activity, namely safely performing lower-body exercises to increase strength, balance, and flexibility.”
Age perceptions can influence healthy aging. FACT: Whether positive or negative, research has indicated that age stereotypes can influence an older adult’s health and functional well-being, and even result in a 7.5-year longevity gap.
“We need to challenge the negative stereotypes people hold about older adults,” Ory says. “The idea that older people are frail and set in their ways can be truly detrimental to health. Recent data reveal that this is a world-wide phenomenon.”
Family members provide the majority of care for older adults. FACT: The latest statistics indicate that more than 40 million family caregivers provided an estimated 34 billion hours of unpaid care to an adult with limitations in daily activities. The value of unpaid caregiving ($470 billion) is a testament to the financial investment that families are providing.
While family caregivers provide the majority of care, Ory notes that family caregiving can be stressful, and programs are available through the CPHA to teach skills in providing care and also in coping with caregiving challenges, especially those faced by persons caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Everyone ages at the same rate. FICTION: Ever wondered why someone can look so much older or younger than their age? The key lies in the differences between biological aging and chronological aging. Chronological aging is the number of years a person has been alive, while biological aging refers to how old a person appears to be and considers the intrinsic and extrinsic factors mentioned above.
“Our lifestyle and behavioral choices have a tremendous impact on our ability to age well—or not well,” Smith says. “Things like physical activity, nutrition, proper sleep, medication management—even the use of technology and assisted devices if it’s needed—are some of the many things we can do to truly help somebody so they can age gracefully and in place.”
Prevention programs are not effective for older populations. FICTION: Research shows that prevention and self-management programs are effective for older populations. The CPHA offers a number of these self-management programs that are evidence-based and led by a team of trained professionals. Specific class information can be found at www.cpha.tamhsc.edu/workshops.
“Our local, state, and national evaluations have documented that these evidence-based, chronic disease self-management, fall prevention, and physical activity programs can improve the triple aim of better health, better health care, and better value,” says Cindy Quinn, Active for Life® program manager.
This commentary is brought to you by the Texas A&M Center for Population Health and Aging. CPHA strives to bring together stakeholders and partners from the community, clinical, and corporate sectors to address the needs of older adults. Working together, CPHA’s mission is to keep Texans “Active for Life®…Everyone! Every age! Every day!” For more information about CPHA, visit www.cpha.tamhsc.edu.
