lecture 8 Flashcards
what is WHOs definition of health?
“A state of complete physical, mental, and social
well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity.”
what is WHOs definition of healthy aging?
“ the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that
enables wellbeing in older age”
the ability to:
- meet basic needs
- learn, grow, and make decisions
- be mobile
- build and maintain relationships
- contribute to society
(overall remain physically, mentally, and socially healthy)
what are 4 considerations in healthy aging?
- there is no typical older person
- goal: improve functional ability of all older people - A large proportion of differences in capacity in older age is due to the cumulative (lifecourse) impacts of advantage and disadvantage across people’s lives
- healthy aging starts at birth- relationships with environments - intervention is possible
- given we identify harming factors (and target them)
- a good intervention considers the big picture - focus on improving quality of (remaining) life rather than only lengthening life
what is the difference between successful aging, healthy aging, and aging well?
Successful aging, healthy aging, and aging well are closely related concepts but not exactly the same
- Successful Aging is more about Individual Health
- Healthy Aging involves the Society
- Aging Well involves policymakers
In this course we call all healthy aging and won’t focus on these subtle differences.
note*
week 8 slide 13 = a comprehensive model of successful aging
what are indicators of healthy aging?
- functioning and disability
- physical activity
- cognitive capability
aging in place?
A policy to keep established social connection, continuous use of resources, no need to (many) additional direct individual-based interventions
➢Older adults strive to live in their family home unless forced to move
➢Established ties: people, physical/ build environment/ community
➢Provides a sense of identity and security (emotional, financial)
how does aging in place work?
Adaptations needed as health, financial, and family situations change
➢E.g. redesigning bathrooms and kitchens
sometimes occurs naturally
➢A whole community ages
most need (some) interventions
➢Planned retirement communities
➢Various types of housing
➢At the contextual (society) level
society vs. healthy aging note*
opinions are rampant in the society:
Aging is inevitable, and health (linearly) decline until physical and mental frailty and we can’t do anything about it
are older adults the least active age group?
yes.
not because it is harmful or older adults are unwilling to exercise
Canadian guidelines for older adults:
“At least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity/week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more”
design and evaluation of an intervention note*
determinant studies (lack of walkable places is a determinant of inactivity)
–>
efficacy studies (experiment to see walkable places influence activity)
–>
effectiveness studies (are walkable places really helpful at population level)
–>
dissemination & implementation studies (1. translation to policy/ 2. adaption to various populations)
why don’t some interventions work?
- the evidence is wrong
- implementation is wrong
- wrong modifications
- some “experts” think they are better than science
a good intervention has what?
- has clear and specific goals
- focuses on a particular sub-population of older adults
- intervention is clearly defined
- duration, method of delivery - outcome is measurable
interventions aiming on healthy aging should also consider feasibility at the population level
lecture takeaway note*
➢Healthy aging is living a life at old age with full capacity, not merely living without diseases
➢Achieving ‘healthy aging’ is possible by adopting evidence-based and well-implemented interventions
-After understanding the patterns of occurrence of health-related
conditions in old age
-What we learned in weeks 4 to 7
