Question

Upon reflecting on this course, how would you define optimal aging?   

What would you recommend to an aging relative to help him or her achieve optimal aging? 

What individual health behaviors do you believe are important to optimal aging? 

What societal structural support (programs and policies) do you believe are important to a growing old population to help achieve optimal aging for this population?

Answer 1

Optimal aging can be defined as a healthy living in advanced age that is free from any disease, having a healthy state of mind, and exception cognitive, social, physical, and emotional functioning.

Optimal aging can be achieved in various ways, such as maintaining a healthy weight is also a kind of optimal aging. Because obesity is one of the major factors that causes many other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes. People of advanced age should at least include physical activities in their daily routine, such as walking. 35 minutes daily can help maintain a proper and healthy weight. One of the recent studies shows that people in advanced age can have more health benefits if they include physical activities. Eating healthy foods and avoiding junk food, alcohol etc can also results in optimal aging. One should be more focused on their health to obtain optimal aging. Avoiding tobacco consumption can also reduce or minimize the risk of developing cancer.

There should be more awareness programs and health promotion for the growing old population. Self-care programs for elderly people and health insurance policies should be given at low premium rates.