Healthy Aging Resource Center

Healthy Aging

Healthy aging involves maintaining the ability to function well into older age, including meeting your basic needs, staying mobile, nurturing relationships, preserving independent decision-making, and contributing to society.

 Some factors linked to healthy aging, like genetics, will be outside your control. However, you can manage many aspects of life to stay healthy as you age, including engaging in regular physical movement, eating a nutrient-rich diet, managing stress, and staying social. Regular checkups with your physician can rule out new illnesses and help you control existing chronic health conditions.

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FAQ

What are the key aspects of healthy aging?

Participating in regular physical and social activity, maintaining a healthy diet, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, and staying on top of medical checkups and medications can all support healthy aging. Avoid smoking and reduce alcohol to limit your disease risk.

A nutrient-rich diet supports cellular health and reduces chronic disease risk. High-fiber, low-saturated-fat foods can help you age healthily. Eating fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats can help you get balanced aging-related nutrition.

Exercise improves strength, prevents falls by improving balance, and protects cardiovascular health. Exercise in older age can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, sleep issues, and disease risk, as well as boost fitness, function, lifespan, outdoor activities, and time with friends.

Engaging in mental exercises, learning new skills, and staying socially active can help preserve brain function into older age, and playing memory or brain games can support mental engagement. Diet, exercise, and sleep also factor into mental sharpness during aging.

Regular checkups and screenings for common conditions, frequent dental care, and vaccinations for diseases like shingles, influenza, and pneumonia can reduce your risk of senior health problems. Setting the home up to prevent falls is also essential.
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Resources
  1. Healthy Ageing and Functional Ability. World Health Organization. October 26, 2020.
  2. Infographic: Tips to Boost Your Health as You Age. National Institute on Aging. January 27, 2025.