What is healthy aging?Aging is a normal process of physical change over time—you can
age passively without giving it much thought, or actively, making conscious,
healthy choices and taking good care of your body and mind. It's never too early or too late to take the path of healthy
aging. If you are feeling well and vital, good self-care helps slow or prevent
many age-related problems. If you now have a long-term (chronic) disease or
disability or generally feel old and tired, making more healthy choices can
have a big impact on how you feel, both physically and mentally. No matter when
you start, a healthy lifestyle improves your quality of life and may extend
your life span. What kinds of changes should I expect as I age?Normal signs of aging are generally the same for everyone, though
they don't necessarily develop at a particular age. Everyone has his or her own
aging timeline. How your body ages is linked in part to your family (genetic) patterns of aging. However, your lifestyle choices tend to have a more powerful impact on how
well your body ages. You can expect to notice and adjust to many gradual changes as
you age. Certain physical changes are fairly predictable. Most people start
needing reading glasses between ages 40 and 50, and many have some hearing loss
later in life. Starting in your 50s, tissue and bone aging increase. Also
starting around age 50, you may notice changes in sexual function—it's normal
to have a slower sexual response. Most vital organs gradually become less efficient with age. Your
metabolism gradually slows, which means that your body needs less food energy
than before. The kidneys also become less able to keep your body hydrated. This
makes exercise, water intake, and a well-balanced diet increasingly important
over time. An active body that gets plenty of oxygen, water, and nutrients is
more likely to function efficiently for a longer period of time. What do I need to do to feel my best as I age?Health experts unanimously agree that regular
physical activity is key to healthy aging and physical independence. Not
only does it keep the body strong, but keeping the body moving protects and
improves your emotional and cognitive health. People who avoid a sedentary
lifestyle, mentally challenge themselves, and stay connected with loved ones
are less likely to suffer anxiety, depression, short-term memory loss
(cognitive decline), and illness in general. In addition to rejecting a sedentary lifestyle, you can feel your
best by avoiding practices that speed aging and trigger disease (such as a
high-sodium and high-fat diet, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and drug abuse).
Also remember that
sexually transmitted diseases can affect anyone at any
age—safe sex is a must. No matter what your age, you are your own best health advocate.
Play an active part in your health care decisions, learn as much about them as
you can, and personally manage your medical information and medication. If
necessary, ask a friend or family member to help you. To get the best medical
care possible, have all recommended health screenings and physicals, and keep
up with immunizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Health tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
As your body ages, you can expect it to undergo gradual changes, at
its own pace. How your body ages depends in part on your family (genetic)
patterns of aging. However, your lifestyle choices have a more powerful impact
on how well your body ages. Fortunately, you can control your lifestyle
choices. The following are normal signs of aging. Some of these changes may
apply to you; others may not. A healthy lifestyle may slow many of these
effects of aging.
Skin. With age, the skin becomes less
elastic and more lined and wrinkled; fingernail growth also slows. The oil
glands gradually produce less oil, making the skin drier than before. You can
slow skin aging by using moisturizer and protecting the skin from the sun with
sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
Hair. It's normal for hair to gradually thin
on the scalp, pubic area, and armpits. As hair pigment cells decline in number,
gray hair growth increases.
Height. By age 80, it's common to have lost
as much as 2 in. (5.1 cm) in
height. This is often related to normal changes in posture and compression of
joints, spinal bones, and spinal discs.
Hearing. Over time, changes in the ear make
high-frequency sounds harder to hear and changes in tone and speech less clear.
These changes tend to accelerate after age 55.
Vision. Most people in their 40s develop a
need for reading glasses as the lens becomes less flexible. It's also normal
for night vision and visual sharpness to decline, while glare increasingly
interferes with clear vision in the later years.
Bones. Throughout adulthood, bones gradually
lose some of their mineral content, becoming less dense and strong. In women,
bone loss increases after
menopause. You can slow natural bone loss and reduce
your risk of
osteoporosis by getting regular, weight-bearing
exercise (such as walking), taking daily calcium and vitamin D, and avoiding
lifestyle choices that weaken bones (such as too much caffeine or carbonated
beverages). Your health professional may also recommend a bone-protecting
medication. For more information, see the topic
Osteoporosis.
Metabolism and body composition. Over time,
the body typically needs less energy, and your metabolism slows. Hormone
changes in the aging body result in a shift to more body fat and less muscle
mass. The best approach to managing these changes is to take in fewer calories
while keeping up or increasing your physical activity. Strength training is an
especially good way to build or keep your muscle mass.
Brain and nervous system. Starting in the
third decade of life, the brain's weight, the size of its nerve network, and
its blood flow decrease. But the brain adapts to these changes, growing
new patterns of nerve endings. Memory changes are a normal part of the aging
process—it's common to have less recall of recent memories and to be slower
remembering names and details. You can help keep your brain sharp with regular
social activity; "mental exercise," such as doing crossword puzzles and
reading; and physical activity, which increases blood and oxygen flow to the
brain.
Heart and blood circulation. The heart
naturally becomes less efficient as it ages, and your heart has to work a
little harder than it once did during activity. This makes the heart muscle a
little larger. You'll notice a gradual decline in your energy or endurance from
one decade to the next.
Lungs. In inactive people, the lungs become
less efficient over time, supplying the body with less oxygen. Regular physical
activity plays a key role in keeping your lungs strong.
Kidneys. With advancing age, the
kidneys decline in size and function. They don't clear
wastes and some medications from the blood as quickly and don't help the body
handle dehydration as well as in the past. This makes it increasingly important
that you minimize the toxins, alcohol, and unnecessary medication that you take
in, and that you drink plenty of water.
Sexual function. Men and women produce lower
levels of hormones starting in their 50s. Men produce less sperm, and their
sexual response time slows, though the male sex drive doesn't lessen. Women
stop ovulating and have a number of
menopausal changes linked to lower estrogen
production. For more information, see the Sexual Vitality section of this
topic, and see the topic
Menopause and Perimenopause.
Physical activity builds physical vitality. With every year of your
life, you have more to gain from being physically active; as your age-related
risks of chronic disease increase, regular exercise generally slows
that trend. Some
research suggests that the heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) benefits you
get from physical activity may also help your brain stay
healthy.1 In fact, you're even more likely
to notice the benefits of regular exercise if you already have a chronic
condition, such as
depression,
coronary artery disease, or
diabetes. What are the benefits of being physically active?On a daily basis, being physically active improves your quality
of life by improving your: - Energy level.
- Mental
sharpness.
- Mood (regular aerobic exercise can
help manage depression, anxiety, and stress).
- Balance, strength,
and flexibility, which are key to preventing injuries and falls.
- Odds against chronic illness. Physical activity also
often helps manage chronic illness with fewer medications.
As you get older, an inactive lifestyle increases your risk of
chronic disease. Conversely, getting regular aerobic exercise is one of your
best defenses against chronic diseases such as: If you already have a chronic disease, becoming physically active
may decrease your need for medication to treat or control it. I'm not physically active right now—how do I start?If you've been inactive for awhile, you don't necessarily have to
set your sights on becoming athletic—your first goal is to simply start moving
more each day. Before you do, though, get off to a smart start by seeing your
health professional for a full physical examination. Then you can follow his or
her recommendations as well as these guidelines for becoming more physically
active. - Add more movement to your daily routine. For
example, put away the TV remote control, park farther from building entrances,
and take stairs instead of elevators. Walk a lap or two around your house or
apartment, then down the street or around a nearby park. Buy a pedometer and
gradually increase the number of steps you take each day.
- Start
with small, short-term goals. It's easiest to stick to something new when you
have early, frequent successes. For example, make a plan to walk for 10 minutes
a day, 3 days a week, for 2 weeks.
- Buddy up with a friend. There's
no better way to stay on track with exercise than with a buddy you look forward
to seeing, who also counts on you (especially on days when you could easily
find an excuse not to exercise).
- Change the way you think about
yourself—start thinking, dressing, and eating like the active, vital person you
plan to be.
-
Make physical fitness a habit with such simple tasks
as writing exercise into your weekly calendar.
-
Walking for wellness
After a few weeks of regular physical activity, you will probably
feel better than before. When you're ready for more, add some variety to your
activity schedule with new ways to build flexibility, aerobic fitness, and
muscle strength. Over time, aim for the U.S. Surgeon
General's recommendation that you have at least 30 minutes of moderate physical
activity (walking, bicycling, yard work) most or all days of
the week.2 -
Flexibility is
increasingly important as age-related stiffness becomes a normal part of your
daily life. A daily stretching or yoga routine can greatly improve your ease of
movement. To help prevent injury, it's important to stretch before and after
any activity that uses your joints and muscles for more than a few
minutes.
-
Aerobic fitness conditions your
heart and lungs. Aerobic (oxygen-using) exercise is any activity that gets your
heart pumping faster than when you're at rest, circulating more oxygen-carrying
blood throughout your body. All kinds of daily activities can be aerobic,
ranging from housecleaning, yard work, or pushing a child on a swing to
walking, bicycling, or playing tennis. On most days, try to do at
least 30 minutes of aerobic activity.
-
Muscle strengthening includes building more powerful muscles
and increasing how long you can use them (endurance). Weight lifting builds
stronger muscles and strengthens bones, while pushups build endurance. No
matter what your age and whether you've done it before, you can gain great
benefit from strength training. As you age, muscle strengthening plays an
increasingly big part in healthy weight control, because muscle is the primary
cell type that uses calories. Muscle strengthening is also key to improving or
preventing balance problems, falls, and therefore bone fractures. The
U.S. Surgeon General recommends doing strengthening exercise at least 2 times
each week.2
For more information, see the topic
Fitness. I'm already physically active. Is there anything more I should be doing?Even if you're happy with your fitness routine, it's a good idea
to periodically stop, think, and rework your activities and goals. As
age-related issues gradually enter into your fitness equation, keep the
following factors in mind. - Beyond age 60, it's important to spend as
much time building strength and flexibility as you spend on aerobic fitness.
Strength and flexibility help your body better handle the age-related changes,
including loss of muscle and problems with balance. To maintain or improve your
balance and resilience, include stretching, muscle strengthening, and such
balance-building activities as
yoga or
tai
chi in your weekly routine.
- It's normal to have to
gradually adjust your expectations of how far you can push your body. If you're
used to pushing yourself, accept your body's changes and tend toward
moderation.
- Cross-training, or including different activities in
your activity calendar, helps you build better overall fitness and helps
prevent injury from overuse.
- Replacing a "lost" activity is a key
to staying active. For instance, if you can no longer run, you might try
walking, biking, and/or swimming.
- Injury generally takes longer to recover from as you
age. If you are injured, allow your injury time to heal—yet keep the rest of
your body moving! You can choose from a list of alternate activities, such as
swimming, water aerobics, biking, walking, yoga, Pilates, or rowing.
- To prevent injury, start a new activity gradually, avoid overusing
your body, and stretch often.
Emotional and mental vitality are closely tied to physical
vitality—just as your mind has powerful effects on your body, so your physical
state affects how you feel and think. Social contact can also make a big
difference in how you feel. Replacing a "lost" activity is a key to staying active
and feeling good about yourself. For instance, if you can no longer
run, you might try walking, biking, and/or swimming. And if your
favorite activity was dancing, you might try something else that combines
social and physical activity, such as joining a water aerobics
class. Replacing lost activities can help you keep a
positive attitude and sense of well-being over time, even if aging and changes
in your health mean you can not do all the things you used to
do.3
Physical activity. Protect or improve your
emotional and
cognitive health with regular physical activity. While
exercise produces chemicals in the body that promote emotional well-being,
inactivity can worsen
depression,
anxiety, and stress. For example, one study
suggests that older women who walk regularly have more mental
sharpness than those who don't.4 Another study showed that regular exercise 3 or more times per week delayed the beginning of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.5
Social activity. Protect or improve your
emotional health by staying in touch with friends, family, and the greater
community. Whether physically healthy or ill, people who feel connected to
others are more likely to thrive than those who are socially isolated.6 Volunteering in your community and sharing your wisdom and
talents with others is a gratifying and meaningful way to enrich your life. In
fact, older adults who regularly volunteer even a small amount of time
generally have a greater sense of well-being than those who don't.7
Mental activity. Protect or improve your
memory and mental sharpness by: - Challenging your intellect on a daily basis.
Read, learn a new musical instrument or language, do crossword puzzles, play
games of strategy with others. Just like an active body, an active brain
continues to develop and thrive, while an inactive brain loses its power over
time.
- Helping your memory along. Write down dates, names, and
other important information that you easily forget. Use routine and
repetition—keep daily items such as keys and eyeglasses in a specific place;
when you learn a new name, repeat it out loud in conversation or to yourself
several times to commit it to memory. (No matter what your age, having too much
on your mind can interfere with your memory of new information. And as you age,
it is normal to take longer to retrieve new information from your memory
banks.)
- Preventing depression, which is a common yet treatable
cause of cognitive decline in older people. In addition to getting regular
exercise and social contact, avoid the depressant effect of alcohol and
sedative use, eat a healthy diet, and include meaningful activity in your daily
life (such as learning, creating, working, volunteering). If depression
strikes, seek professional help—antidepressant medication and/or counseling are
effective treatments for depression. For more information, see the topic
Depression. If you find that a physical condition or
disability is making your depressed mood worse, get the medical treatment you
need.
- Not smoking. Cigarette smoking may speed mental decline; this
connection was recently identified in a large study comparing smokers and
nonsmokers age 65 and over.8
Stress reduction and relaxation techniques.
Too much life stress can take a toll on your body, your mind, and the people
who are closest to you. In addition to getting regular exercise, you can take
charge of how stress affects you by taking 20 minutes per day for relaxation
time. -
Meditation focuses your attention and helps calm both
mind and body. Daily meditation is used for managing a spectrum of physical and
emotional conditions, including
high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and
chronic pain.
- The body responds to stress
with muscle tension, which can cause pain or discomfort.
Progressive muscle relaxation reduces muscle tension
and general anxiety and may help you get to sleep.
- The way you
breathe affects your whole body. Try
breathing exercises for relaxation. Full, deep
breathing is a good way to reduce tension, feel relaxed, and reduce stress.
Positive thinking.
Positive thinking may help you live
a longer, happier life. However, even if you tend to be an optimist, there are
times when it takes extra effort to frame your life positively. Take the
following steps to harness the power of positive thinking in your daily life.
- Create positive expectations of yourself, your
health, and life in general. When you catch yourself using negative self-talk
or predicting a bad outcome, stop. Reframe your thought into a positive one,
and speak it out loud or write it down. This type of thinking can help you best
recover from surgery, cancer, and other life crises.
- Open yourself
to humor, friendship, and love. Go out of your way to find reasons to laugh and
to spend time with people you enjoy.
- Appeal to a higher power, if
it suits you. Whether it be through your faith in a loving, all-powerful God or
your connection with nature or a collective unconscious, your sense of
spiritual wellness can help you through personal trials and enhance your joy in
living.
Because sexuality tends to be a private matter, it's likely that
you've heard less about sexual change than any other element of aging.
Fortunately, the news is good—for most healthy adults, pleasure and interest
don't diminish with age. Most people are sexual throughout their lives, with or
without a partner, and some feel greater sexual freedom in their later years.
On the other hand, some men and women are content to be sexually inactive.
Around age 50, men and women typically begin to notice changes in
their sexual drive, sexual response, or both. Like so many other physical
changes that evolve over time, these aren't signs that you are losing your
sexuality. Rather, these changes are simply something to adjust to and discuss
openly with your partner and/or health professional. Normal sexual changes in menAs you age beyond your 50s, you may find that: - Male sex drive is minimally affected by age
(although health problems, certain medications, or relationship stress can
lower sex drive).
- Erections become less firm and tend to take more
time than when you were younger.
- You may be able to delay
ejaculation for longer than when you were younger.
Normal sexual changes in womenAfter
menopause,
estrogen and
androgen levels drop, causing physical changes. You
may find that: - It can take longer to become sexually
excited.
- Your skin may be more sensitive and easily irritated when
caressed.
- Intercourse may be painful because of thinning vaginal
walls (regular sex often helps prevent this from becoming severe). If a
water-based lubricant (such as Astroglide or Replens) isn't enough, talk to
your health professional about vaginal estrogen cream, which reverses thinning
and sensitivity. For more information, see the topic
Menopause and Perimenopause.
- You are less interested in sex.
If you have noticed sexual changes that don't seem to be linked
to normal aging, talk to your health professional. There are a number of
medications that can cause sexual problems, as well as
health conditions that can cause sexual problems.
Adjusting to age-related sexual changesWith a little experimentation and patience, you can adjust to
sexual changes and satisfy your sexual and intimacy needs. If you think your
sexual interest might be affected by a medication or health problem, work with
your health professional to correct or treat it. Talk with your partner about
any misgivings you might have so you can handle them together. With your partner, take your time to set a relaxed mood and
engage in foreplay. Use a lubricant if vaginal dryness or irritation is a
barrier to enjoying sex. If you drink alcohol, remember that a small amount may
relax you and increase your responsiveness, but too much alcohol is likely to
work against you.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a
risk no matter what age you are. Unless you and your partner have
recently been tested or you are 100% sure that you both have been monogamous
for many years without infection, make sure that you
practice safe sex to prevent STDs.
As you get older, good nutrition plays an increasingly important
role in how well you age. Eating a low-salt, low-fat diet with plenty of
fruits, vegetables, and fiber can actually reduce your age-related risks of
heart disease,
diabetes,
stroke,
osteoporosis, and other chronic diseases. By eating a
wide variety of foods, you can pretty easily get what your body needs,
including: -
Protein, which is needed to maintain and rebuild
muscles. You can get low-fat, quality protein from poultry, fish, eggs or egg
substitutes, soy, and limited amounts of nuts and low-fat meat and
dairy.
-
Carbohydrate, which is the body's
preferred source of energy. There are two main sources of dietary
carbohydrates: simple sugars, such as sucrose (the
refined white sugar added to sweets and desserts),
fructose (the sugar contained in fruit), and lactose (milk sugar); and
complex carbohydrates, which come from vegetables and
grains. Unlike refined sugars, fruits contain vitamins and fiber,
dairy products contain nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D, and
complex carbohydrates contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Get
most of your carbohydrate calories from vegetables, grains, and
fruits, and try to replace fat calories with complex carbohydrates
in your diet.
- Fat, which also provides energy. To help keep your
blood
cholesterol levels low, get most of your limited fat
intake from the polyunsaturated fats (as in liquid corn oil or soybean oil) and
monounsaturated fats (in olive oil, avocados, and nuts).
Limit
saturated fats (beef, pork, veal, butter, shortening,
and cheese). You can do this by eating these foods less often, having
smaller servings, choosing less fatty cuts of meat, and by using stronger
tasting cheeses so you can use just a little and still get the cheese flavor.
Try to avoid the trans fats (hydrogenated fats) found in stick margarine and in
many processed foods such as crackers and cookies. Trans fats are now shown on
the nutrition facts labels found on most packaged foods.
- Water, to replace water lost through activity. Because
your
kidneys gradually become less efficient at keeping
your body hydrated, make a conscious effort to get six to eight
8 fl oz (0.2 L) glasses of
water per day.
As you take a look at your daily diet, remember that as you age:
- Your body's daily energy needs slowly decrease.
You therefore need fewer calories per day than when you were younger. Your
health professional or a
registered dietitian (RD) can help you calculate your
ideal calorie intake.
- Natural hormone changes make your body prone
to producing more body fat (especially around your middle) and less muscle. You
therefore need less fat and plenty of protein in your diet, combined with
increased activity and muscle strengthening (muscle cells are the major calorie
burners in your body).
- Your bones lose mineral content more
rapidly than before, especially if you are a
postmenopausal woman, because lower
estrogen increases bone loss. As a result, you need
plenty of daily
calcium to help prevent
osteoporosis. (Your health professional may have
additional treatment recommendations, including a
calcium supplement and/or medication.)
Simply put, the best way to reach and maintain a healthy weight as
you age is to take in fewer calories than you needed in your youth and to make
sure that most of what you eat is nutritious and low in fat and processed
sugar. Avoid
saturated fats and
trans
fats. These are harmful to your blood
vessels and increase your risk for developing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). And they can affect your
cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. Saturated fats
are found mostly in foods that come from animals, such as beef,
pork, veal, butter, and cheese.
Trans fats are found in
the shortening in many cookies and crackers, in fried fast foods, and in stick
margarine. Also consider how
other food choices can improve or worsen your cholesterol
levels. For more information on nutrition, see the topic
Healthy Eating. Help for managing underweight or poor nutritionPeople who are underweight have low reserves for bouncing back
after an illness or injury. In the later years, this can lead to permanent ill
health or disability. If you have trouble keeping your weight up, it's critical
that you take special measures to build your weight, energy, and resilience.
Every day, follow your health professional's recommendations and: - Eat three meals plus three snacks, and never
miss a meal.
- Choose higher-calorie foods from each food group, such
as whole milk instead of skim milk. However, try to keep your overall
saturated fat intake low—high cholesterol can affect anyone.
- Eat
the highest-calorie foods in a meal first.
- Use liquid supplements,
such as Ensure or Boost, between meals.
If you are having trouble getting the food you need because of
transportation, financial, or health problems, ask your health professional
about local meal programs. Most communities have Meals on Wheels programs that
can deliver food to your door, as well as meals at churches and community
centers that can nourish your needs for both food and social time.
Medical prevention, regular checkups, and prompt treatment play a
key role in your quality of life as you age. Prevention Whereas your grandparents' generation had few protections from
life-threatening conditions, you now have the advantage of immunizations and
regular screenings. To maximize your odds of living a longer, higher-quality
life, make sure you get all screenings and immunizations that are recommended
for all people over age 50: - Preventive health screenings for both men
and women include blood pressure checks, cholesterol screening, colorectal
cancer screening, hearing and vision tests, and dental examinations. Men may
also be advised to have an annual prostate check, which may include a digital
rectal examination and/or a blood test. Women are advised to also have a
regular breast examination and mammogram as well as a pelvic exam and Pap
test. For detailed information on these and other recommended health
screenings, see the topic
Early Disease Detection. There are sections in the
topic for people ages 50 to 64, and people over 65 years
old.
- The recommended immunizations includes tetanus
boosters, yearly influenza (flu) shot, and pneumococcal
vaccine. For detailed information on these and other recommended
immunizations, see the topic
Immunizations. There is a section in the topic about
immunizations for adults.
Managing your health care
Be an informed health care consumer. When
concerned about a medical condition, read as much as you can about it and its
possible treatments. Make a list of unanswered questions and talk to your
health professional about them. Explore all treatment options before deciding
how to treat a problem, and get at least one second opinion if you're
considering a surgery, medication with dangerous side effects, or experimental
treatment. For more information, see the topic
Making Wise Health Decisions.
Be your own best health advocate. Make it
your goal to work in partnership with your health professionals. In general,
people who make health decisions with their health professionals are happier
with the care they receive and the results they achieve. It's important to
share in every decision about your health. The decisions you make influence
your overall well-being as well as the quality and cost of your care. Whenever
you have a medical appointment: - Bring your health and medication history with
you, as well as a list of questions you want answered during your appointment.
- Make sure you understand your health professional's key points
about your health and any possible tests and treatments.
- You can
bring along a friend or family member to support you and help you remember key
information for later on. This can be especially useful when you're under a lot
of physical or emotional stress.
For more information about how to work in partnership with a
health professional, see the topics
Work Closely With Your Doctor and Smart Decisions: Know Your Options.
Get organized. Feeling organized and in
control of your health care can be a challenge, especially when something comes
up unexpectedly. Your best approach to managing your health care is to organize
now—create a personal medical information file, including an ongoing record of
your: - Health professionals' names and
numbers.
- Medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins. For each,
include the dosage, who prescribed it and why, and any side effects you have
had.
- Any known allergies to medications, foods, or insects
(include the type of allergic reaction).
- Immunization
record.
- Symptoms, health conditions, and treatments. For each, jot
down dates and any details that you might easily forget.
- Exam and
test results.
- Emergency medical information, such as pacemaker use
or chronic disease diagnosis.
- Insurance policy and payment
receipts.
For more information on how to organize your medical information,
see the topic
Your
Home Health Center. Should you become physically or mentally unable to make your own
medical decisions,
advance directives such as a living will and
a medical power of attorney can ensure that you will get the care
you want. A living will states your wishes about your medical care; a medical
power of attorney gives a person you choose (your health care agent) the
authority to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to
make these decisions for yourself. In addition to putting your
advance directives in writing, also be sure to clearly communicate your choices
to all family members who might be involved in your health care in the future.
For information about writing advance directives or selecting a health care
agent, see the topics
Writing an Advance Directive and
Choosing a Health Care Agent.
Online Resources| Administration on Aging | | U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services | | Web Address: | http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/ | | | This government Web site offers the latest aging-related policy and
Medicare information, as well as links to health information. Text is provided
in several languages and font sizes. |
| | America on the Move | | Web Address: | http://www.americaonthemove.org/ | | | This organization is dedicated to helping Americans make lasting,
healthy lifestyle changes. Their simple guidelines include walking an
additional 2,000 steps per day and decreasing caloric intake by 100 calories.
This Web site provides simple, inspiring information about personal, group, and
community activities. |
| | Healthy Aging for Older Adults | | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | | Web Address: | http://www.cdc.gov/aging/ | | | This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site
provides health information for older adults, relevant health statistics, and
links to numerous aging-related Web sites. |
| | NIHSeniorHealth | | National Institutes of Health | | Web Address: | NIHSeniorHealth.gov | | | This Web site for older adults offers aging-related health
information. The site was developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA)
and the National Library of Medicine (NLM), both part of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH). NIHSeniorHealth features up-to-date health information from
Institutes and Centers at NIH. In addition, the American Geriatrics Society
provides independent review of some of the material found on this Web site. The
Web site's senior-friendly features include large print, short, easy-to-read
segments of information and simple navigation. A visitor to this Web site can click special buttons to hear the text aloud, make the text larger, or turn on higher contrast for easier viewing. |
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Organizations| AARP (Association for the Advancement of Retired People)
| | 601 E Street N.W. | | Washington, DC 20049 | | Phone: | 1-888-OUR-AARP 1-888-687-2277 | | Web Address: | http://www.aarp.org/ | | | AARP is a national organization founded in 1973 to promote quality
of life for older people. AARP provides information and education about issues
affecting older people, including medication costs; advocates at the national,
state, and local levels; and provides opportunities for service and
involvement. |
| | Medicare (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services) | | 7500 Security Boulevard | | Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 | | Phone: | 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) toll-free for the Medicare speech-automated system 1-877-267-2323 toll-free for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | | TDD: | (866) 226-1819 | | Web Address: | http://www.medicare.gov/ | | | This federal agency provides guides and other information
on Medicare. The Official U.S. Government Site for People With
Medicare (http://www.medicare.gov/) provides useful information
about Medicare enrollment, coverage,
billing, appeals, and drug discount cards, as well as the latest Medicare policy
changes impacting older Americans. Information on the Medicare
Hospice Benefit and how to choose a nursing home is also
included. |
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